As parents and students gear up for the start of the new school year, remember to make sure that students are up-to-date on all of their required shots.

The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District has a “No Shots, No School” policy, which means that all students must have the proper immunizations, be a conscientious objector, or have a medical exemption BEFORE starting school.

Minnesota law and School Board policy requires written proof of scheduled shots for students in grades K-12. If a child has a medical reason, or if his/her parents are conscientiously opposed to any or all of the scheduled shots, a legal exemption is available. To file an exemption, you must complete a form, which is provided by the school district. The form is also available on the Minnesota Department of Health’s Web site at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/pupilimzrec.pdf.

The 2009-2010 Minnesota Required Childhood Immunization Schedule can be found at, http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/arekidseng.pdf.

For more information, call your doctor, clinic or health plan. If you do not have insurance, or your insurance does not cover these immunizations, contact Washington County Public Health at 651-430-6655 or Ramsey County Public Health at 651-266-1234.