Rockland Health Officials Immunizing at Spring Valley High School

Spring Valley High School and the Rockland County Department of Health will jointly offer an immunization clinic June 12 to students in need of vaccines.

The clinic, modeled after one offered by the Putnam County Department of Health, is a pilot program expected to serve approximately 20 students this year.

According to the Rockland County Department of Health, “Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect vaccinated individuals but also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infections diseases.”

Spring Valley High School Nurse Margaret Cullen-Reardon initiated the plan, developed in conjunction with Spring Valley High School and District staff and in coordination with the Rockland County Department of Health, in response to a number of students who had been unable to get vaccinations on schedule, and as a result were at risk of not being permitted to attend school.

As per New York state law, all students who have not received a medical or religious exemption are required to have obtained specific immunizations each school year, according to a schedule published by the State. Students who have not received the vaccines and who do not have an exemption have 30 days in which to be immunized (60 days if they show in good faith that they are attempting to comply with the State requirement), after which point they are legally required to be excluded from school.

Cullen-Reardon obtained written and oral consent from the parents of the students who will be receiving the immunizations, and information was provided in English, Spanish, and Creole.

Students participating in the clinic run by Spring Valley High School and the Rockland County Department of Health on June 12 will be able to receive the polio, TDAP, and Hepatitis B vaccines. Nurses from the department of health will administer the vaccines and the clinic will not administer any live vaccines, MMR, or Varicella in order to minimize the chance of any reactions. The immunizations will be free to students who do not have insurance.

Spring Valley High School Principal Karen Pinel said in a prepared statement, “We’re grateful to the Rockland County Health Department for partnering with us in ensuring that our students are healthy and ready to learn. As a community, we must work together to meet the needs of our children.”

Pinel says the school hopes to offer the clinic again twice a year, starting next year.