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1.Identify out-of-compliance students. |
“Out-of-compliance” can be defined as those children who do not meet the requirements for attending school due to inadequate immunization records. This group of children does NOT include those with exemptions on file or those children that are conditional (cannot obtain immunizations at this time due to minimum age or intervals of vaccine schedule). You can find the current requirements to attend school by checking here. |
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2. Develop a tracking system. |
Once school staff know who to contact, it is important to track progress and attempts at contacting parents. Find sample tracking sheet here. Developing a system to keep track of who and when a parent is contacted is critical to the follow-up process. TIP: Some school nurses use their Outlook calendars to remind themselves who they need to follow-up with that day. For districts that have computerized records, the system may allow you to put notes on a student’s record. |
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3. Cross-reference the Washington State Immunization Information System (WAIIS). |
If a school has access to the Washington State Immunization Information System (WAIIS), staff can cross-reference a child’s school immunization record with immunization data in this database (FYI– The WAIIS was also formerly referred to as Child Profile). |
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4. Send letters or emails to parents of out-of-compliance students. |
Below is a list of current letters that can be modified to meet your needs, including organization or district logo and contact information. You can find any of these sample letters in Microsoft Word Format in the “School Sample Letter” section here.
Once the letter is developed, a separate letter for each student will need to be printed out and
If funds are available, it may help to include a self-addressed stamped envelope for parents to return updated information, as well as updated contact information. Mailing and calling parents are the most effective methods of contacting parents. TIP: If a school has parent names and addresses in an exportable form, or if a school has them typed into Excel, they may find Microsoft Word’s mail merge tool useful. The functionality allows staff to create letters and envelopes that are pre-populated with names and address. Click here for more information about Microsoft Mail Merge. |
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5. Start calling parents. |
Start calling parents right away. Even though staff know the parents have not received a letter yet, staff can let them know the letter is on its way. Staff have only 30 days to get the needed immunization information before the child is excluded from school, so it is important to start the follow-up as soon as a student is identified as out-of-compliance. Keep trying parents. Many times parents are just busy and need reminders. Sample phone scripts to call parents can be found in here. As records are provided to the school from the parents, ensure these updates are added to the current system of immunization record keeping. |
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6. Mail or hand-deliver exclusion letters. |
Within 30 days, complete the phone follow-up and update tracking sheet. According to the WAC, schools are obligated to exclude these children until a completed Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) or a completed Certificate of Exemption (COE) is provided. Parents are notified that their child will be excluded by mailing an Exclusion Letter, which must be sent by Certified Mail, or hand-delivering an Exclusion Letter. The child is excluded upon receipt of the letter, until the child is compliant. Many school districts will utilize resource officers to hand-deliver letters, or even distribute them during parent-teacher conferences. If a parent requests a Certificate of Exemption, there are two ways this form can be completed:
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