Immunizations
The Georgia Department of Public Health is requiring a meningococcal booster shot (MCV4) for all 11th graders on their 16th birthday. This requirement starts on the first day of school, August 4 2022. All students that are 16 years old by August 4 2022 need to plan to get the MCV4 booster vaccination. The Columbia County Public Health Department will be offering several dates in the coming months for students to get the vaccination.
Please keep your child's vaccinations up to date! Visit the Immunization link more information of the GA Vaccination Schedule for school attendance.
Middle School Immunization:
Students that are 11 or 12 years old, required additional vaccinations to attend school.
MCV4 (Menigitis) and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) are the additional vaccines that are needed.
12 year olds and older are eligable for the COVID vaccination, Pfizer or Moderna. The Public Health Department, area pharmacies and your physician have the vaccines.
The Georgia Immunization requirements
Immunization Form 3231:
Students registering or transferring from another Georgia School, are required to have a valid, current Form 3231 Immunization Record PRIOR to attending the first day of school.
Students registering or transferring from out of State, a valid, current Form 3231 Immunization Record is required within the first 30 calendar days of attendance in a Georgia school.
Health Screening 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.
Vaccine Schedules: Easy to Read for Parents
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 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
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