New Vaccine Requirements: At Least Three Maryland School Districts to Request Extension

At least three counties in Maryland will ask for an extension on new vaccine requirements for 7th graders that could have kept students out of school.

The state announced Friday that school districts may apply for a 45-day extension for students to get the immunizations. On Monday, school officials in Montgomery County said they have already applied for the extension, and officials in Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties say they plan to.

The new requirement states that all 7th-grade students must have a Tdap (Tetanus-diptheria-attenuated pertussis) vaccination and a meningococcal (MCV4) vaccination, within 20 days of the start of the 2014-2015 school year.

Montgomery and Anne Arundel's initial deadline fell Sunday, which could have kept students from attending school Monday.

But an Anne Arundel County schools spokesperson said they are allowing noncompliant students to stay in school because they plan to apply for the waiver. As of Friday, around 1,000 Anne Arundel County Public Schools students did not have the required immunization documentation on file with their schools.

Montgomery County schools have applied for the vaccine deadline extension, and kids were not kept out of school Monday. The county has not heard a response from the state regarding their request for the waiver, a schools spokesperson said.

As of Monday, about 480 7th-grade students in Montgomery County had not fulfilled the requirement. Montgomery County Public Schools allowed those students to attend school Monday, despite the passage of the deadline.

Prince George's County's initial deadline would have been Tuesday. However, the county announced it plans to seek an extension on the vaccine deadline. Without an extension, students who have not gotten the shots could have been kept out of school Wednesday.

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NBC Washington is waiting to hear from Frederick County officials on their plans. However, as of Friday, more than 500 of the county's 3,013 7th-graders had yet to comply with the immunization requirement.

All four counties are offering immunization clinic information:

Anne Arundel County:

The Department of Health has set up a free walk-in clinic for students who still need the Tdap and meningococcal immunizations. Parents or guardians must be present with their children at any of the clinics to sign consent forms.

Meade Middle School, 1103 26th St. on Fort Meade
Monday from 3 to 7 p.m.

Glen Burnie Health Center, 416 A St. S.W. in Glen Burnie
Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5:30 p.m.
For more information, call 410-222-6633

Parole Health Center, 1950 Drew St. in Annapolis
Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5:30 p.m.
For more information, call 410-222-7247

Frederick County:

Immunizations are available from your primary health care provider, at the Frederick County Health Department by appointment (310-600-1733), at Minute Clinics (866-389-2727) and other locations.

If your child cannot get these vaccines from their health care provider or your child does not have health insurance, the Frederick County Health Department can provide these vaccines by appointment. Call 301-600-3342 to schedule an appointment.

Prince George's County:

If your child does not have health insurance, please contact Prince George's County health department at (310) 833-7879 or 1-800-561-4049 to make an appointment and obtain additional information regarding immunizations available on a sliding scale.

Additionally, area pharmacies and store clinics are offering these immunizations that may be covered by health insurance, offered at full price or on a sliding scale.

The following health care providers will see children without insurance: