The health and wellbeing of our students is very important to us. Having documentation of allergies, medical conditions, and relevant medical history helps us provide the best care to our students if they need it while at school.

Important forms:

• Immunization Form - required for all students
• Medication Order & Permission Form - required for any medication taken at school
• Allergy Individual Health Plan - required for students with allergies or serious medical conditions
• Medical exemption
• Religious exemption
• Documentation of Varicella (chickenpox) Disease 

Required Immunizations:

Students entering Rice must provide documentation of the following VT State required Vaccines: 

• 5 doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine
• 4 doses of polio vaccine, * the last dose must be at or after age 4*
• 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine
• 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine
• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine**
• One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine
• Meningococcal ACWY if living in the DORM

** If the student has previously had chickenpox disease, no vaccine or exemption is needed.  Parents must submit documentation of disease or sign the Health Department form. Students not meeting the vaccine requirements must be vaccinated as outlined in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s catch up schedule. 

Medical or Religious Exemption to one or more vaccines is allowed. Exemption Forms must be completed, signed and returned to the school upon enrollment.  Religious Exemption Forms must be completed annually. Students with an exemption may be excluded from school during a disease outbreak.
 

Medications:

Any student who is required to take prescription medication during the regular school day must comply with the school regulations, which shall require the following:

• Written orders from a physician to be updated annually
• Written orders from the parent/guardian to comply with the physician’s order
• Medication must be in a non expired, pharmacy labeled container and delivered directly to the Nurse.
• Written permission from a physician for a student to possess and self-administer emergency medications such as EPIPENs, insulin and rescue inhalers.

A student’s first dose of any new medication shall be given at home

Medications usually taken at home but required for overnight field trips shall meet the same requirements for safe medication administration within the school building.

Any student who is required to take a non-prescription medication shall require the following:

• Written permission from the parent or guardian, to be updated annually
• Medication delivered to the school health office
• The maximum dosage will not exceed label directions

Allergies:

Food or other life threatening allergies, such as an insect sting, are serious medical conditions.  Although most allergies cause relatively mild and minor symptoms, some allergies can cause severe reactions called anaphylaxis.  Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can have a rapid onset and may be life threatening. The best treatment starts with complete information. What Parents/Guardians need to do:

• Every year, an Individualized care plan (IHP) should be provided to the school Health Office. 
• The IHP should: provide information about the allergen (food, drug, or insect sting), including a written diagnosis from the student's doctor or allergist provide signs and symptoms of the student's possible reactions to known allergens
• provide information about the possible severity of reactions, including any history of prior anaphylaxis
• a treatment plan for responding to an allergy reaction or emergency, including whether an epinephrine auto-injector should be used
• All this information is generally included in what is called an  “Allergy Action plan”

Seizures or other serious medical conditions:

The best treatment starts with complete information.  We ask that parents/guardians notify the Health Office of all existing life threatening or serious medical conditions. If your student has an emergency medication please complete a medication order/permission form and IHP form (for seizure). If your child has asthma it would be ideal for a physician to provide an Asthma Action Plan.  Plans for other medical conditions can be custom made by meeting with the Nurse, either in person or via phone conversation. 
 

COVID-19 Information:

• https://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-treatment