Nursing
School Nursing
Our school nurses play an important role in supporting the health, safety, and well-being of every student. This page provides families with important information about when students should stay home when they are sick, required health documentation, medications at school, immunizations, physical exams, and other health requirements. Please review these guidelines and reach out to your child’s school nurse with any questions about your student’s health needs.
For enrollment documentation requirements, please click here.
When is My Child Too Sick for School?
Please keep your child home from school, for their comfort and the safety of their classmates, when they:
- Have had a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours
- Started antibiotics in the last 24 hours
- Have experienced vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
- Have an undiagnosed rash
- Feel too sick to participate in regular activities
- Have a diagnosed communicable disease
- Have been diagnosed with COVID or flu
Visit your school’s homepage for information on informing the school of an absence.
Required Forms For Prescription Medication Administration
Parents and guardians will need to complete this process at the start of every school year, if their child needs medication at school.
Medication administered by a school nurse.
If your child will require medication at school, please fill out the Medication Administration Plan Form. Fill out the form online or follow instructions to print the form and bring it in to your child’s school nurse.
Medication self-administered by the student.
If it is appropriate for your child to self-administer medication, please fill out the Medication Administration Plan Form and Self-Administration Form. Certain medications may be self-administered with parent or guardian and school nurse permission. These medications are restricted to the following four: asthma rescue inhalers, epinephrine auto-injectors, enzymes for cystic fibrosis, insulin and glucose testing devices. Other medications can be considered on a case-by-case basis with the school nurse. The parent or guardian must fill out the Medication Administration Plan Form above, and the Self-Administration Plan, and they must meet with the school nurse before any medication can be self-administered.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Students may not carry over-the-counter (otc) medications during the school day but nurses may administer otc medications with parent / guardian permission. Please fill out the otc medication form in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Arabic.
Required Health Documentation for Enrollment
Physical Examination
A complete physical examination (done within one year of school entry) is required of all children new to the Somerville Public School system as well as those children entering Pre-K, Kindergarten, 4th, 7th, and 11th grades. Annual physicals are required for students playing team sports. For more information about immunizations and physical examination requirements, please call Kayla Centeio at 617-625-6600 x6967.
IMMUNIZATIONS, Lead Test, and TB Test/Risk Assessment
MGL Ch. 76, Sec. 15 requires that children be up-to-date with immunizations for school entry. The medical record must indicate dates of immunizations – month, day, and year. Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines (105 CMR 460.050) also require a lead test prior to PK or K entry. All children must also have a TB Risk Assessment Form or, if deemed high risk, a TB skin test or IGRA. If you need help obtaining insurance or locating a local doctor, please call 617-625-6600 x6967.
Somerville Public Schools Immunization Requirements
| PK | K | 1-6 | 7-8 | 9-12 | |
| Hepatitis B | 3 doses | 3 doses | 3 doses | 3 doses | 3 doses |
| DTap/Td | 4 doses | 5 doses*(4 if fourth given on or after 4th birthday) | 5 doses*(4 if fourth given on or after 4th birthday) | 5 doses*(4 if fourth given on or after 4th birthday) | 5 doses*History of primary series |
| TdaP | 1 dose(required for entry to Gr7) | 1 dose | |||
| Polio | 3 doses | 4 doses*(4th dose must be on or after 4th birthday) | 4 doses*(4th dose must be on or after 4th birthday) | 4 doses*(4th dose must be on or after 4th birthday) | 4 doses*(4th dose must be on or after 4th birthday) |
| MMR | 1 dose / proof of immunity | 2 doses / proof of immunity | 2 doses / proof of immunity | 2 doses / proof of immunity | 2 doses / proof of immunity |
| Varicella | 1 dose / proof of immunity | 2 doses / proof of immunity | 2 doses / proof of immunity | 2 doses / proof of immunity | 2 doses / proof of immunity |
| MenACWY (Meningococcal) | 1 dose | 2 doses*(2nd dose must be given on / after 16th birthday) | |||
| Hib | 1-4 doses | ||||
| Lead Test | Within 12 months of school entry | Previous result | |||
| Physical Exam | Within 12 months of school entry | Within 12 months of school entry | Within 12 months of school entry | Within 12 months of school entry | Within 12 months of school entry |
| TB Assessment | Documented low risk or TB test result | Documented low risk or TB test result | Documented low risk or TB test result | Documented low risk or TB test result | Documented low risk or TB test result |
Medical and religious vaccine exemptions must be renewed annually at the start of each school year. A medical exemption requires a dated statement from a physician confirming that a vaccine is medically contraindicated for the student. A religious exemption requires a dated statement from the student, or from a parent/guardian if the student is under 18, stating that vaccination conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs. Vaccine Exemption Request Form