Schools scramble to make sure immunization records are current

Schools across Allegheny County scrambled this morning to ensure all students had complete immunization records on file, per new county health department regulations.

A number of students were sent home for not meeting the requirements. As of yesterday, Pittsburgh Public Schools had 3,600 students without complete records or exemption forms signed by a parent or guardian. That figure was around 7,000 on Monday.

"We do expect that number to drop dramatically," said district spokeswoman Ebony Pugh, who predicted fewer than 1,000 students would be without documentation by day's end. "This took a lot of teamwork with the health department. We're very glad we are getting the paperwork, the waivers, in today. We don't want kids to not be in school."

Updated figures were not immediately available. Pugh said the district will process students throughout the day.

Last week Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill had 550 students without complete immunization records, said Principal Melissa Friez. This morning 75 students were questioned in the auditorium about their records. All but 16 were sent back to class after producing their records, Friez said. Another 110 students without complete records didn't report to school, she said.

"We talked to a lot of parents yesterday who are taking care of it today," Friez said. "They are going to do a half-day of school."

Some students expressed frustration, saying they turned in their records multiple times. Others complained about the timing of the deadline.

"I don't think it is fair because it doesn't seem regulated," said Ben Allen, 17, a senior from Squirrel Hill who received three vaccinations last night. "It seems out of the blue."

New regulations require students to have a series of new vaccinations, protecting them against chicken pox, whooping cough and meningitis, by today or they would be excluded from classes and extracurricular events.

Health Department clinics have been inundated, with about 2,100 people receiving vaccinations Monday through yesterday, said department spokesman Guillermo Cole. The Oakland clinic is staying open until 7 p.m. today and Friday for those who haven't gotten their vaccinations.

"We've been publicizing this for more than a year," Cole said. "The parents can't plead ignorance."

Kim Gmyss of Mt. Washington noticed that her daughter left her records at home, so she rushed to Brashear High School this morning to keep the sophomore from being sent home.

Gmyss said she was unaware of some of the immunization requirements until earlier this week.

"It makes me a little upset that she would have been sent home," Gmyss said. "There was one shot the clinic knew about, but we had no idea."

Elizabeth Strickland's oldest son recently began attending the Pittsburgh's science and technology magnet school. He received his vaccinations and submitted proof to the district, but some documentation was still missing, Strickland said.

"I was getting pretty frustrated," said Strickland of Windgap. "The parents were given a fair chance, but I think that the record-keeping was a mess."

More than 95 percent of students countywide have met their immunization requirements, Cole said.

"Some people have just been procrastinating," he said, "and that's frustrating." Staff writer Jason Cato contributed to this report.