Overview of why this is being done:

For the 2014-15 school year, there are new immunization requirements for all kindergarten and 7th-grade students. The deadline for these requirements has recently been extended and these students are able to attend school. Students out-of-compliance at other grade levels will be excluded beginning on Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

Thank you for your continued and support to ensure our students are in compliance. Your dedication and commitment ensures that students are able to succeed in City Schools.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Student Support and Safety at 410-396-0775 or email John Zesiger () or Louise Fink ().

Immunization Door to Door Campaign Script

General Script:

Hi, my name is ______(your name) from Baltimore City Public Schools. I was hoping I might speak with ______(parent’s name), regarding immunizations for ______(student’s name).

Istopped by today to alert you that ______(student’s name) is out-of-compliance with his/her immunizations.

We would like to help with providing your child’s school with the proper immunization information.

What is the current status of ______(student’s name) being able to submit the proper immunization documentation to their school?

Parent/Guardian not available:

We dropped by today to speak with the parent(s)/guardian(s) of ______(student’s name) about immunization documentation. Would you please ask them to contact the child’s school ______at 410. _ _ _ ._ _ _ _ for more information?

Potential Responses and FAQ’s

I have already sent the immunizations to my student’s school.

  • Thank you for sending the immunization information to your child’s school. I will make note of this and we will contact the school. In the meantime, please follow-up with the school to ensure that they received the information. If they have, please ask them if there are any other immunization requirements missing.

We have received the immunizations, what do I do next?

  • We are happy to hear that you have received the immunizations. Please provide a copy of the immunization information from your doctor to your child’s school. Generally the school secretary receives the immunization information but please check with the main office. Please make a copy for your records prior to submitting.

Where can I receive immunizations?

  • One of the best options for receiving the required immunizations is through your child’s physician/pediatrician. Please contact your doctor to make an appointment to receive the immunizations. After the appointment, please take the documentation to your child’s school.
  • If you are not able to make an appointment with your child’s doctor, the Baltimore City Health Department provides free immunization clinics. Hours are included on the attached calendar –note the different locations.
  • Additional information can be found at
  • If your child attends a school with a School Based Health Center (see the last page of this script), you can register them at this center to receive their vaccinations. This will not impact other medical assistance.

I would like to request a religious or medical exemption.

  • City Schools recognizes the rights of parents and guardians to request an exemption based on religious beliefs. The immunization form at the school will require your signature stating that you have a religious objection to immunizations. The form is called an 896 form and is available at your child’s school.
  • Medical exemptions can be granted for a number of reasons. Please contact your school’s nurse with your concerns. They will then review the information and forward for final approval.

I have an appointment scheduled.

  • Great! Having an appointment is the first step and will help ensure your child receives the proper immunizations. If the appointment is scheduled after 9/22, and your child is not in Kindergarten or the 7th grade, your child can still be excluded from school. Please share the information about the appointment with your school’s immunization coordinator (this could be the secretary or counselor) and inquire if the appointment would permit a temporary exemption. After the appointment, please ensure that the school receives the immunization updates as soon as possible so that your child’s records can be updated and your child can return to school.

I received a letterstating my child is not allowed to come to school.

  • Students have a 20-day period after the first day of school to provide documentation of the required immunizations. This 20-day period has been extended for Kindergarten and 7th graders. Students in these grades are able to continue to attend school. However, students in other grades, who have not submitted the proper documentation, will be excluded after Tuesday, September 23rd, the 20-day period. This is based on Maryland regulations. Please work with your doctor or a health clinic to receive the required documentation and submit to school.

I can’t afford a medical appointment or shots right now.

  • In most cases, vaccinations are free of charge, including families who receive medical assistance. If you are not able to make an appointment with your child’s doctor, please contact the Baltimore City Health Department to schedule an immunizations appointment. They can be reached at 410.396.4454

What are the new vaccine requirements this year?

  • The new immunization requirements requiring Kindergartners to receive two (2) doses of the Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, and entering seventh graders are now required to have a Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis) booster and Meningococcal (Meningitis) vaccine.
  • The Varicella requirement prevents severe illness in almost all children that are immunized. The vaccination has an average effectiveness of 85%. Nonetheless, vaccinated students that still get the chickenpox will have a much milder illness than those who do not receive the vaccination.
  • There are also two new immunization requirements for 7th grade students.
  • The Tdap booster requirement was added to address the increasing rate of pertussis (whooping cough) throughout the state and nation. In 2013, there were over 48,000 diagnoses of the pertussis cough, which can last more than one hundred days and significantly affect the attendance, academic performance, and general health of an entire school community.
  • The Meningococcal vaccine (MCV) prevents potential Meningitis outbreaks within a school environment. Such has been shown to be extremely dangerous, and in some cases, fatal. Recent health statistics reveal that 10% of diagnosed cases result in death, and 20% of such patients suffer significant neurological and/or physical dysfunction. The statistics are much worse for health-challenged and younger individuals, especially within families and communities that lack adequate access to quality healthcare.

BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT - Bureau of School Health

School Based Health Centers

SCHOOL YEAR 2014 - 2015

PS # / Level / Street Address / Zip Code / Phone / Principal / RN Assignment / SHA/MOA Assignment / Super-visors
8 / E/M / City Springs Elem / 100 S. Caroline St / 21231 / 276-7704 / Rhonda Richetta / Christine Rutkowski / Krystal Jessup / Dorothy Freeman
13 / E/M / Tench-Tilghman Elem / 600 N. Patterson Ave / 21205 / 4437033665 / Jael Yon / BMS / BMS / Charmagne Thompson
37 / E / Harford Heights Elem / 1919 N. Broadway / 21213 / 396-8086 / Dania Thomas / BMS / BMS / Charmagne Thompson
97 / E/M / Collington Square Elem. / 1409 N. Collington Ave / 21213 / 396-9198 / D Andrea Chapman / BMS / BMS / Charmagne Thompson
160 / E/M / Dr. Carter G. Woodson / 2501 Seabury Rd / 21225 / 545-6600 / Valerie Hooper / DruHodgetts / C. Williams / Dorothy Freeman
301 / M / William S. Baer School / 2001 N. Warwick Avenue / 21216 / 396-0833 / Patrick Crouse / Monique Nkere, Barbara Kadin, Maggie Singleton / Paulette Tucker, Rhonda Dorsey, Neisha Reed / Dorothy Freeman
347 / E / KIPP Harmony / 4701 Greenspring Ave / 21209 / 443-642-2027 / Natalia Walter / Lena Brown / Vivian Reed / Dorothy Freeman
401 / H / Northwestern High / 6900 Park Heights Ave / 21215 / 396-3504 / Saeed Hill / BMS / BMS / Charmagne Thompson
405 / H / Patterson High / 101 Kane St / 21224 / 396-5763 / Vance Benton / BMS / BMS / Dorothy Freeman
414 / H / Paul Lawrence Dunbar / 1400 Orleans Street / 21205 / 443-642-4486 / Tammy Mays / BMS / BMS / Dorothy Freeman
416 / H / Digital Harbor / 1100 Covington St / 21230 / 396-3894 / Bryan Eyer / Wanella Taylor / Carolyn Grant / Dorothy Freeman
422 / H / New Era Academy / 2700 Seamon Ave. / 21225 / 396-8048 / Sandra Howard Simmons / FideliaNgere / Pamela Gross / Dorothy Freeman
430 / H / Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts / 1500 Harlem Park Ave / 21217 / 396-0032 / Tracy Hicks / A. Amatus-Salaam / Rochelle Webb / Dorothy Freeman
341 /425 / M/H / The REACH! SCHOOL / 2801 St. Lo Dr / 21213 / 410-366-8533 / Michael Frederick / Maggie Singleton / Christine Sanford / Dorothy Freeman
374 /431 / M / Vanguard Collegiate Middle / 5000 Truesdale Avenue / 21206 / 443-642-2069 / Esther Wallace / BMS / BMS / Charmagne Thompson