Meningococcal Disease and Vaccine

Inhalers - The school nurse must have a copy of the prescription label and box in her office. If the box is unavailable, the pharmacy can provide the inhalers prescription label.

Epi-Pens (TwinJect, Epinephrine, Adrenalin) - All students with Epi-Pens, TwinJects, and other pre-filled single use epinephrine auto injectors must have a copy of the original pharmacy prescription label attached to the cartridge holder or the original box.

Students may only carry medications indicated for a "chronic" health condition (asthma, diabetes, seizures, etc.). The doctor must indicate the "chronic" condition on

the PPA and check the "kept on person" and/or "self-medication" box on the PPA.

The parent or guardian will be notified when their child's medication is completed or becomes out of date. Expired medications will not be given at school.

All student medications must be picked up by the last day of school, before summer break, or the medications will be destroyed per federal regulations (in the presence of a witness, as indicated). No medications will be kept at school over the summer.

Some medications are not to be given during school hours. The school nurse reserves the right to refuse to administer certain medications unless a doctor has specifically written that the medication be given during school hours.

When a student will be attending an alternative school, it is the parent's responsibility to transport his or her child's medicine to and from the student's home school and to and from the alternative school.

The parent/guardian should provide the school nurse with a list of possible side effects for medications taken over a 30-day period.

The first dose of any new medicine should not be given at school. Athens City Schools follows the State of Alabama guidelines for the administration of medications to students. Only school nurses and certified medication assistants are legally allowed to administer medications to students in the State of Alabama.

MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE AND VACCINE

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness, caused by bacteria. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2 – 18 years old in the United States. The bacteria that cause meningococcal disease are very common.

Meningococcal vaccine: Who should get the vaccine and when?

MCV4, or the meningococcal vaccine, is recommended for all children 11 – 12 years of age and for unvaccinated adolescents at high school entry (15 years of age). High school seniors should also consider obtaining the vaccine prior to entering college, especially if they are planning on living in a dormitory. Please consult your physician or local health department for more information. For more information concerning this or other vaccine recommendations visit www.adph.org/immunizations.