Immunizations
School Year 2020-2021
Form 3231 Immunizations:
Children are required to receive specific immunizations prior to beginning school. Under the current law, schools have the ability to grant a 90-day waiver of these requirements provided the parent or legal guardian shows the child is in the process of completing the required immunizations. Due to COVID-19, for the school year 2020-21, many families are having trouble arranging for the required vaccinations. The Georgia Department of Public Health encourages schools to exercise flexibility provided under current law (90 days) in allowing families to submit a Certificate of Immunization for their children.
Form 3300 Hearing, Vision, Dental and Nutritional Screening:
Form 3300 is required to be presented to school authorities when a child is being admitted for the first time to public school in Georgia. Current law requires students to have Form #3300 on file within 3 months from the date of enrollment. Due to COVID-19, for the school year 2020-21, many families are having trouble arranging for the required screenings. The Georgia Department of Public Health encourages schools to exercise flexibility provided under current law (3 months) for students to complete and submit Form #3300.
The Georgia Immunization requirements
The Georgia Department of Public Health has delayed the new 11-grade vaccination requirement of a meningococcal booster shot (MCV4) until school year 2021/2022.
Columbia county public schools require students entering grades K-12 to submit a valid Certificate of Immunizations, Form 3231, to the school. This certificate must reflect the official requirements at the time the child enters school, and the child will be subject to any updates of this certificate as specified by law. This certificate will be maintained throughout the child's attendance in the school system.
The GA form 3231 must be completed and signed by a licensed Georgia physician, Advanced Practiced Registered Nurse, Physician Assistant, a qualified employee of a local Georgia Board of Health or the Georgia State Immunization Office.
Licensed military physicians can sign the Georgia Immunization form 3231. If the physician is on a military base, but not licensed in Georgia that person is also authorized under his federal employment to practice as long as it is related to his employment.
According to The Georgia Composite Board for Georgia Physicians, they are allowed to sign Georgia forms, such as 3231 but they must enter vaccine information into the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS) system and students from the military based families must present a 3231 to enter Georgia schools.
Georgia students, new to Columbia County, are required to submit the Form 3231 or Religious Exemption Form 2088 prior to attending school.
For students new to Georgia, a justified waiver of 30 calendar days can be granted by the Superintendent or designee. This will allow the parent 30 days to get the proper immunization form to the school. The Columbia County Public Health Department will transcribe the out of state vaccinations records to a GA form 3231 for a nominal fee.
For a child to attend childcare facility or school in GA a parent can choose one of the following 3 options:
Children whose parents fail to present or renew the Certificate 3231 within the time allotted shall not be permitted to continue in attendance.
The State of Georgia has new immunization requirements all students entering the 7th grade and new Georgia students in grades 7-12.
These students will be required to have the following additional vaccinations:
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4)
Columbia County Health Department
