Minnesota Department of Health logoMinnesota Department of Health Updates:

news of interest to child care providers



New Documentation Requirements for Chickenpox Vaccine

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) wants to let child care providers know that there has been a change in Minnesota’s School Immunization Law that affects you as a child care provider. As you know, a child who has had the chickenpox (varicella disease) is immune to it and doesn’t need to have a varicella shot to go to child care. However, starting September 1, 2010, you can no longer accept a parent’s/guardian’s signature to document that a child has had chickenpox. Legally, you will only be able to accept:

In the past a parent’s report of disease was acceptable, but this was only temporary and it expires on August 31, 2010.

MDH has revised the Child Care Immunization Record form to meet the criteria of the law, and developed a parent fact sheet called What About Shots for School or Childcare If Your Child Has Already Had Chickenpox? Both are available on their general immunization web site at www.health.state.mn.us/immunize. The direct link to the child care immunization record is: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/laws/childcareimzrec.pdf and the direct link to the parent fact sheet is:  http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/laws/chknpxhx.html

If you have any questions about the School Immunization Law, please call MDH at 651-201-5503 or 800-657-3970.

Thank you for all your hard work in helping to keep Minnesota’s children healthy.

Patricia Segal Freeman, J.D., M.P.H.
Policy Analyst
Immunization, Tuberculosis, and International Health
Minnesota Department of Health
625 North Robert Street (street address)
P.O. Box 64975 (mailing address)
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

New Reporting Request on Chickenpox and Shingles

As of this year, 2010, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is asking all child care providers to report all cases of chickenpox and shingles in children or staff.

A fact sheet that gives the reasons for this reporting and a case report form is available at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/varicella/childcare/index.html

Please call Pam Gahr at 651-201-5415 if you have questions or concerns.