PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon public health officials are reminding parents they need to make sure that immunization records are up to date by Feb. 17 or their children won't be able to go to school or child care.
State law requires that all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities be up to date on their immunizations, or have a religious or medical exemption.
If a child's immunization record shows that he or she has not received required immunizations, parents or guardians will be sent a letter.
Last year, local health departments sent nearly 37,000 letters to parents and guardians informing them their children needed immunizations to stay in school.
Nearly 4,700 children were kept out of school or child care until the necessary immunization information was submitted.
