Policy 6512

In order to safeguard the school community from the spread of certain vaccine-preventable diseases and in recognition that prevention is a means of combating the spread of disease, the board strongly urges that school staff members (including volunteers) provide documentation of immunization or evidence of immunity against certain vaccine-preventable diseases.  The following immunizations are recommended for school staff:  measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (Tdap and Td), and influenza (flu). Staff members born prior to January 1, 1957 need not provide evidence of immunity to measles; these individuals are considered naturally immune.

A staff member may claim an exemption for religious, philosophical or medical reasons. Staff members without an acceptable immunization record on file may be excluded, as he/she is considered to be susceptible. In the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease in school, the local health officer has the authority to exclude a susceptible staff member. If excluded, he/she is not eligible to receive sick leave benefits because of the exclusion itself. To qualify for benefits, he/she must be ill or temporarily physically-disabled.

The superintendent or designee will evaluate all job duties of district employees to determine which employees have reasonably anticipated on-the-job exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. The district will maintain a list of job classifications where employees have reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. The hepatitis B vaccine will be provided at the district’s expense to all employees identified as having risk of directly contacting blood or other potentially infectious material at work.

In the event that an employee has a specific exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material, the employee will be provided, at district expense, with confidential medical evaluation, follow-up and treatment, if indicated.

The district will provide annual training to all employees with reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material. All employees will receive district provided training on HIV/AIDS within six months of initial employment.

Records will be kept in strict confidence regarding the hepatitis B vaccine status of all employees with reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material and for each occupational exposure an employee has to blood or other potentially infectious material. The records will be kept for the duration of the employee’s employment, plus thirty years. The district will also keep records that employees have received appropriate training.

 

Cross reference:         

Policy 3414                                   Infectious Diseases

Legal References:                                                                  

Chapter 246-110 WAC Contagious disease — School districts and day care centers

Chapter 296-823 WAC Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens

Chapter 392-198 WAC Training — school employees — HIV/AIDS

Management Resources:        

2020- September Policy Alert

2015- June Policy Issue

2015- April Policy Issue

La Center School District Adopted: February 27^th, 2007; Revised March 23, 2021