Middleton Elementary School Student Handbook 2019-2020
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MISSION OF HARDEMAN COUNTY SCHOOLS The mission of the Hardeman County Schools is to prepare each child for the future by developing skills, nurturing talents, molding characters, and inspiring dreams.
MISSION OF MIDDLETON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The mission of Middleton Elementary School is to ensure that all children meet or exceed challenging academic, behavior, and social standards through powerful learning experiences in an environment which encourages responsibility and respect for others.
BELIEFSï‚· We believe student learning should be our first priority. We believe that all students should have the opportunity to learn in a safe, secure, and caring environment. We believe that all students should have the foundation to become successful lifelong achievers. We believe that all students should be accepted, valued, and challenged according to their individual needs. We believe that all students should have effective modeling and instruction, which includes the six character traits – fairness, caring, responsibility, respect, trustworthiness and citizenship, to prepare them to become productive citizens.
CODE OF CONDUCT Middleton Elementary School provides each student with a maximum opportunity to acquire an education. NO student has the right to interfere with this opportunity for others by his/her actions, poor manners, or lack of consideration. All rules and regulations are developed and enforced with that thought in mind.
Some rules and regulations are specified by the Board of Education, some are school level, and others are established by the classroom teacher. There are four basic rules: 1. Be Respectfu 2. Be Outstanding 3. Be Accountable 4. Be Responsible
This conduct code was developed to make students, parents, and staff aware of the behavioral expectations for students while attending classes at Middleton Elementary, while attending school sponsored activities, and while riding on transportation provided by the Hardeman County Board of Education.
RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION Parents and legal guardians have the right to request student information from the school office.
PURPOSE OF THIS HANDBOOK The purpose of this handbook is to acquaint the parents of Middleton Elementary School with the school’s services, curriculum, and policies. Through an understanding of the regulations that keep the school functioning efficiently and an awareness of the opportunities offered in the various phases of school life for growth and development, a firm understanding will be established among the school administration, faculty, parents, and students.
ABSENTEEISM When students miss school, they are required to bring a note from the parent or guardian stating the reason they were absent. If it is an acceptable reason (for example, sickness, a death in the family, etc.), the student has up to three school days to complete their make-up work and turn it in. If they fail to do this, it becomes a zero. In the case of an extended absence, the teacher can extend the time a reasonable length. Absences due to “going on vacation,” visiting relatives, etc. are not acceptable reasons. However, parents are urged to make arrangements to have their child’s work sent home if they know it will be an extended absence so they won’t get too far behind. If a student misses more than 10 days, we will require a doctor’s excuse for any further absences. Please remember to have your child at school every day possible. Completing make-up work in no way replaces the classroom experiences that students miss when they are absent.
BEING LATE FOR SCHOOL Students who arrive at school after 8:00 am are considered tardy. The fact that your child misses important instructions and directions for their morning work makes it even more imperative that children arrive at school before 8:00 am each day.
CAFETERIA GUIDELINES 1. All students must either eat a lunch provided by the cafeteria or bring lunch from home. 2. No carbonated drinks or competitive foods allowed in school cafeteria. 3. No glass containers allowed in lunch boxes. 4. Loud noises or disorderly conduct will not be tolerated. 5. When lunch is brought from home and not provided by the school cafeteria, milk can be purchased at regular price. 6. Parent Day – Please do not bring competitive foods or drinks into the school. (Example: Yopp’s, McDonald’s, Subway, Coke or Pepsi products) BREAKFAST PROGRAM Students have the opportunity to eat a well-balanced breakfast at school provided that they arrive at school by 7:45. All students are expected to be in their classrooms by 8:00. It is the generally accepted opinion that students learn best when they eat a good breakfast. Please encourage your child to either eat breakfast at home or at school.
REPORT CARDS Report cards are sent out after the end of each nine-week grading period for students in grades K-6. Parents shall sign the report card and students shall return the report card to school the next day. A signature does not denote agreement or disagreement with the grades. The signature is the school’s way of knowing that the parents have seen the report card. If parents have questions concerning the report card, they may call the school office and request a conference with their child’s teacher(s). Progress Reports are also sent home in the middle of the nine-week grading period. HONOR ROLL REQUIREMENTS Students in grades 4-6 are eligible for the Honor Roll. In order to make the Honor Roll a student must have as many or more grades in the 93-100 range (excellent) as in the 85-92 range (good), with no grade below 85 and no unsatisfactory grades in conduct, music, and physical education. Students who make Honor Roll 3 out of the 4 nine weeks are eligible for an end of the year trip as a member of the Honor Society. If a student goes to AES or receives a pink slip anytime during the school year, they will be ineligible for the Honor Society trip. Students who make Honor Roll 3 out of 4 nine weeks are eligible for the Beta Club. BETA CLUB Middleton Elementary School is a member of the National Junior Beta Club. To become a member, a student must make the Honor Roll a minimum of three out of four times during the year. Good conduct is also a criterion for membership. Once a student is a member, he/she must maintain his/her grades or he/she will be put on probation. Educational trips are taken throughout the year
GIFTED PROGRAM The gifted program (ETIP) provides services for children who have been identified as being intellectually gifted. This class provides opportunities above and beyond the scope of the regular classroom.
HEALTH SERVICES Illness at School If a student gets sick at school, he/she is sent to the school nurse. The nurse determines if the student should go back to class or go home. She will contact the parent as needed.
Medication All medications must be brought to the school by a responsible adult, so please do not send any medication with your child. Medication should be given to the school nurse.
SEE ATTACHMENT #1 – HARDEMAN COUNTY MEDICATION POLICY
Injuries or Emergencies at School In case of an accident, the school nurse or teacher of the student receiving an injury should immediately notify a parent. If a parent cannot be reached, the student will be taken to the nearest medical facility. The teacher is responsible for making out an accident report.
FIELD TRIPS All students at Middleton Elementary School are given the opportunity to participate in one field trip per year. Box Tops for Education helps fund out of county field trips.
RESPECT FOR EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES Each student is expected to assume responsibility for the care of all school property. Students who accidentally damage property are responsible for paying the damage. Damage of a malicious nature will be considered a very serious matter and must be repaired or replaced at the expense of the student at fault. This includes damages to school buses.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES Parents are encouraged and welcomed to visit the school at any time. However, it is required that those who wish to confer privately with teachers do so at 3:00 when the students are dismissed, if the teacher does not have previous commitments. Parent-teacher conference days are scheduled for the school year in the fall and spring.
STUDY HABITS AND HOMEWORK Homework serves valid purposes when it: (1) provides essential practices in needed skills; (2) trains pupils in good work habits; (3) affords opportunities for increasing self-direction; (4) enriches and extends school experience; (5) helps children learn to budget time; (6) brings pupils into contact with out-of-school learning resources; and (7) promotes growth in responsibility.
Parents do their part to improve homework when they: 1. Cooperate with the school in making homework effective. 2. Provide their children with suitable study conditions (desk, light, books, supplies), reserve time for homework, and turn off the TV. 3. Encourage their children but avoid undue pressure. 4. Are interested in what their children are doing but do not do the work for them. 5. Understand what the school expects homework to accomplish.
Children can improve their study habits by observing the following suggested principles: 1. Be sure you clearly understand each assignment. 2. Form the habit of using a certain time and a certain place for the study of each subject.
Written homework at Middleton Elementary School is only to be given on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. However, students sometimes have tests that they will need to prepare for on Wednesday nights or the weekend. Homework should be completed within 15-30 minutes in grades K-3 and within 30-60 minutes in grades 4-6.
ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requires schools to conduct inspections for asbestos containing building materials. The most recent inspection determined that all asbestos containing building materials were found to be in good condition. An Asbestos Management Plan is available for review in the principal’s office.
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE School discipline is simply a matter of courtesy, manners, and attitudes on the part of the students. All faculty members and administrative members have equal authority. Insubordination will not be permitted. Students are expected to do what is asked of them while under the jurisdiction of any faculty member. If they believe they have been unjustly disciplined, the problem may be discussed later with the teacher or principal. Teachers are employed to teach, not police, and students are expected to be in school to learn and conduct themselves accordingly.
GENERAL RULES OF OUR MES TIGERS: 1. Be Respectful 2. Be Outstanding 3. Be Accountable 4. Be Responsible
*Please see ATTACHMENT #2 for Hardeman County Schools Disciplinary Levels.*
WEAPONS Students shall not possess, handle, transmit, use or attempt to use any dangerous weapon in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, or at any school sponsored activity, function, or event. Students who are found to have violated this policy shall be subject to suspension for a period of not less than one year. When it is determined that a student has violated this policy, the principal of the school shall notify the student’s parent or guardian and the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system as required by law.
BULLYING Students shall be provided a safe learning environment. It shall be a violation of this policy for any student to bully, intimidate or create a hostile educational environment for another student. Bullying and intimidation are defined as either physically harming a student or damaging his/her property, or knowingly placing the student in reasonable fear of such, or creating a hostile educational environment. The policy addresses conduct taking place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided transportation, or at any official school bus stop immediately before boarding and immediately following deboarding.
All victims of the above-referenced offenses shall report these incidents immediately to a teacher, counselor or building administrator. Any allegations shall be fully investigated by a complaint manager. EARLY DISMISSAL Requests to release children from school presents a serious problem to school administrators and teachers. Such requests are made for many and varied reasons with careful discrimination in each individual case. The general attitude of the school is that the school is responsible for the child, and responsible to his/her parents, and that the brief hours in school are of such importance to the growth and development of the child that they should be guarded from interruption. The following rules of procedure offer appropriate safeguard in the interest of the health and safety of children during the time the school is responsible for them: 1. Children are released from school only to their parents or to persons authorized by their parents. 2. In the case of family dissension (divorce, step-parents, grandparents of separated parents, etc.), the request occasionally comes to prohibit one party of the conflict from taking the child from school. Such requests are honored only if legal status is established. 3. In case of emergency, a child is sent home only with the parent or with another authorized adult if the parent is not available. 4. In the absence of the principal, the assistant principal and the classroom teacher are responsible for making decisions. They are to notify the principal (as soon as possible) of any decision that is made. 5. In order to promote student safety, students are not to be checked out of school from 2:45 – 3:00.
Hardeman County Board of Education Student Transportation Management
General School buses shall be maintained and operated in accordance with state law and State Board Rules and Regulations.
Each bus shall be equipped with the phone number for reporting safety complaints. This number shall appear on the rear bumper.
To avoid the financial burden of replacing an aging bus fleet at any one time, the board shall attempt to replace a certain number of buses each year on a rotating basis.
All accidents, regardless of the damage involved, must be reported to the transportation supervisor, including incidents in which any part of the bus contacts any other object or vehicle.
The director of schools shall develop procedures to ensure compliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements for the transportation program.
Transportation Supervisor The director of schools shall appoint a transportation supervisor for the system. He/She shall be responsible for the monitoring and oversight of transportation services for the district.
The transportation supervisor shall complete a student transportation management training program upon appointment. Every year the transportation supervisor shall complete a minimum of four (4) hours of training annually.
The director of schools shall ensure that training is completed and provide the state department of education with appropriate documentation.
Complaint Process The following procedure will govern how students, teachers, staff, and community members shall submit bus safety complaints: 1. All complaints shall be submitted to the transportation supervisor; and 2. Forms may be submitted in person, via phone, mail, or email. Written complaints shall be submitted on forms located on the district’s website. In case of a complaint received via phone, the person receiving the phone call shall be responsible for filling out the form and submitting it to the transportation supervisor.
The transportation supervisor shall begin an investigation of all bus safety complaints within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.
Within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of the initial complaint, the transportation supervisor shall submit a preliminary report to the director of schools. This report shall include: 1. The time and date the complaint was received; 2. The name of the bus driver; 3. A copy or summary of the complaint; and 4. Any prior complaints or disciplinary actions taken against the driver.
Within sixty (60) school days of receiving the initial complaint, the transportation supervisor shall submit a final written report to the director of schools that details the investigation’s findings as well as the action taken in response to the complaint.
An annual notice of this complaint process shall be provided to parents and students. This information shall be made available in the student handbook.
Recordkeeping The transportation supervisor shall be responsible for the collection and maintenance of the following records
Bus maintenance and inspections forms; ï‚· Bus driver credentials, including required background checks, health records, and performance reviews; Driver training records; and Complaints received and any records related to the investigation and complaints.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE The school bus is viewed as an extension of the classroom and behavior problems may be referred to a teacher or administrator. Riding the bus is a privilege; the privilege may be removed if infractions are serious and/or repetitive.
Hardeman County provides buses to transport students to and from school. While the Hardeman County School System furnishes transportation, it does not relieve parents/guardians of students from the responsibility of the supervision until such time as the child boards the bus in the morning and after the child leaves the bus at the end of the school day. Once a child boards a bus he/she becomes the responsibility of the school system. Such responsibility shall end when the child is delivered to the regular bus stop at the close of the school day. Rules of conduct have been developed to provide a safe and pleasant environment for students while being transported.
To encourage safety for your child, the following rules apply on our buses:
1. The bus driver is in charge. Students must promptly listen to instructions.
2. If students have to walk along the road to a bus stop, they should do so on the left side of the road facing the traffic. They should walk as far away from the lane of traffic as is practical in a single file.
3. Do not run to or from the bus.
4. While waiting for the bus, stand 10 feet from the road and stand in a single file to get to the bus. Don’t play, push, or shove while waiting.
5. Students must be at the bus stop when the bus arrives. The driver is not required to blow the bus horn, and he/she may leave the bus stop if the student is not there at the proper time.
6. Don’t litter while waiting on the bus. Stay out of others’ yards.
7. If students have to cross the road, they must do so under the driver’s direction.
8. Stand still at the bus stop until the bus comes to a complete stop.
9. Go directly to a seat and sit down after getting on the bus. Be sure to use the handrail. Face the front, and keep legs, books, and other objects out of the aisle.
10. Keep the bus clean.
11. The use of tobacco, drugs, food or drinks on the bus is prohibited. Animals and objects as well as glass containers are also prohibited.
12. The driver may assign seats.
13. Do not put any part of your body out the window, and do not throw anything out the window.
14. If a student damages the bus, payment will have to be made before he/she is allowed to ride again.
15. Students must observe the same rules of conduct as they do in the classroom. Ordinary conversation is permitted. Horseplay, unruly behavior, abusive and obscene language or gestures are unacceptable.
16. When leaving the bus, do so under the driver’s direction. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before getting up. Use the handrail, and move quickly (but don’t run) away from the bus.
17. Stay clear of the bus after getting off. If students have to cross the road, they must move out 10 feet in front of the bus before crossing. Watch for the driver’s signal and cross when the way is clear.
18. Do not delay the bus by going to check the mailbox, visit a friend, etc. Cross the road as soon as the way is clear and the driver has given the OK.
19. Drivers will not unload passengers at a place other than the regular stop unless the student shows the proper authorization. Proper authorization consists of a note with a request signed by the parent and also signed by the principal. No student will be delivered to a business.
20. A student desiring to ride a bus other than his/her assigned bus must have the same authorization as in rule 19.
21. Failure to observe these regulations may result in disciplinary action and possible suspension from the bus. School transportation is a privilege, not a right.
22. Parents are responsible for their children before the children get on and after they get off the school bus.
When a student is taken to the office, the principal will inform the parents with a bus discipline report of the rules violated and the action taken. All students are capable of obeying all of the bus rules. Therefore, if a student is referred to the office three times he may lose the privilege of riding the bus for a period of up to two weeks.
P.T.O. At this time, Middleton Elementary School is supported by a chartered Parent Teacher Organization, which is very active. There are four regular P.T.O. meetings during the year. The meetings will be in September, November, February, and April. All parents are encouraged to come to the P.T.O. meetings and take an active part in the activities they sponsor in support of the school.
PARTIES AT SCHOOL 1. Teachers are allowed to have two parties per school year. The parties will be at Christmas and/or Valentine’s Day. 2. Birthday parties at school are not allowed, since it takes up too much of our valuable instructional time.
TELEPHONES Students should ask to use the telephone only in case of emergency. Permission must be granted by the teacher. Parents are encouraged to call their child’s teacher at a time when classes are not in session (3:00). Students are not allowed to have cell phones or pagers at school. Students are not permitted to possess cell phones on school property in purses, pockets, or backpacks during the school day. Students are not permitted to make or receive calls, or transmit or receive text messages, on cell phones, or use these or other personal communication devices for any reason at any time during the school day on school property including school buses. The cell phone or other such item will be confiscated and kept in the office for thirty (30) school days, after which time the item will be given to a parent or guardian. On the second offense, the cell phone or other device will be confiscated and held sixty (60) school days. On the third offense, the cell phone or other device will be confiscated and held for balance of the academic school year, but not less than ninety (90) school days.
SAFETY A. Emergency Signals 1. We are required by law to have regular fire drills. 2. The fire drill signal is the sounding of the fire alarm 3. The tornado drill signal is a steady ringing of the bell.
B. Emergency Procedures
1. During the fire drills, the teachers will accompany students outside at least 200 feet away from the building. Both classroom doors must be closed and the lights must be turned off. The teacher will carry her roll book outside and check roll. 2. Students will leave books and everything and go immediately without saying a word. Please do not run, but walk swiftly. 3. Students will return on the all clear signal. 4. During a tornado drill, the teacher will accompany her students to an assigned area. The students will assume the correct position until the all clear signal is given. 5. As with the fire drill, the students will go swiftly and immediately, leaving everything and not saying a word.
VISITORS Visitors will not be permitted on the school property except by permission of the principal for good reason shown at any time during the school hours. For safety, all visitors are asked to report to the office where they will be issued a visitor pass, and at no time go into the classroom without doing so. The visitor must return to the office and sign out when leaving the building.
CARE OF THE BUILDING Our custodians work hard to make sure that our school building is attractive, clean, and one that we can be proud of. For this reason and to promote student safety, rolling book bags are not permitted.
Hardeman County Schools operates under the 1969 Federal Court desegregation order. Under this order, transfers from one school zone to another are permissible when the student wishing to transfer is in the racial majority at the home school and will be in the racial minority at the receiving school. All transfer requests meeting these criteria are subject to approval by the Director of Schools and the Chairman of the Board of Education. There must be space available at the receiving school for a transfer to be approved. Parents may find the Student Transfer Request form at www.hcsedu.org/School.Forms.html.
HARDEMAN COUNTY SCHOOLS STANDARD DRESS CODE
DRESS CODE The dress code is designed to reflect the will of the school community. Hardeman County School Board Policy #6.310 states the following: “Students shall dress and groom in a clean, neat, and modest manner so as to not distract or interfere with the operation of the school.”
STANDARD DRESS FOR HARDEMAN COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: The standard dress code is optional for Pre-K students and P.A.C.E. students.
Shirts – Only golf-type shirts (no zippers) and button-front shirts will be permitted. Only the top 2 buttons may be unbuttoned. 1. Must have a collar. 2. Must be a solid white, black, or the designated school color. 3. Must be the appropriate size. 4. May be long or short sleeve. 5. Must not have any writing or pictures. 6. Must be tucked in and remain tucked in at all times. 7. Logos shall be no larger than an inch on the left side of the shirt (Tiger head, MES, paw print). 8. Only white t-shirts may be worn underneath the approved golf or button-front shirt. 9. Short sleeve t-shirts may be worn with the approved short sleeve shirts.
Sweatshirts/Sweaters must be solid white, black, or the designated school color. Solid color sweaters with v-necks, crew necks, cardigans or vests in the approved colors may be worn, but must be worn over the approved shirts. No brand names or wordings are allowed. 1. There are to be no logos on the sweater or sweatshirt. 2. Sweaters, sweatshirts, and vests should hang at the waist/belt line. 3. Hooded sweatshirts/sweaters of any kind will not be worn in the classroom. 4. Sweaters or sweatshirts are not to be tied over the shoulders or around the waist. 5. Mock turtlenecks or turtlenecks in approved colors may be worn under the approved shirt. They must be solid color, and either white or the approved school color, and they can not be worn alone. Short sleeve turtlenecks may be worn under the approved short sleeve shirts.
Pants – Color choices for pants are khaki, black, or navy (hemmed or cuffed) and of a cotton twill blend. 1. Pants must be worn and fitted at the waist line. 2. Low slung, baggy seat, baggy legged, or bell-bottom pants are not permitted. 3. Students in all grades PreK-12 may wear knee-length shorts of a cotton twill blend in khaki, navy, or black. 4. No jeans are allowed except on special days designated by the school principal. 5. No rivets on pants. 6. Cargo pants, carpenter pants, or overalls are not permitted. 7. Pant legs can not be rolled up exposing the leg. 8. There are to be no holes, rips, or tears. 9. Capri style pants may be worn by female students. Capris are defined as trousers which end at the mid-calf area or just below the calf.
Belts – Belts must be worn through the belt loops and buckled. The belt buckle must be a plain buckle and shall not exceed 1 ½ inches in width. The belt must be brown or black, and not have any writing or logos. Uniform pants which have a completely elasticized waist with no belt loops do not require that a belt be worn.
Skirts/dresses – All skirts must be solid, khaki colored, black, or navy blue, and be a twill cotton or blend. 1. Skirts must go to the knee. 2. There must be no slits in skirts above the knee. 3. All dresses that are worn must be solid khaki colored or navy blue and go to the knee.
Footwear- 1. Shoes are to be worn at all times. 2. Dress/casual shoes, sandals, or athletic shoes are to be worn and must be properly fastened. 3. Flip flops and skeletoe shoes are not to be worn.
4. Boots are permitted with the pants leg worn outside the boot. 5. Shoes with heels taller than 1 ½ inches are not permitted.
Coats/Jackets – 1. Students may wear any color heavy coat to school, but it must be stored in a locker or designated location when the student gets to school. Heavy coats may not be worn in the class room. Sweaters, jackets, or pullover windbreakers without hoods may be worn with the standard dress policy clothing in the classroom in white or the approved school color. 2. Large, oversized coats and jackets or trench coats are not permitted within the school building. 3. Coats and jackets must not have drug, alcohol, gang related, gambling, or other such messages or pictures.
Headwear 1. No caps or hats are to be worn in the school building. 2. No sweatbands are to be worn in the school building. 3. Headwear may be worn on school busses but must be removed and stored upon arrival at school. 4. Girls may wear head bands such as those worn to hold hair in place while in the school building.
Expectations & Consequences- Students are expected to adhere to the standard dress policy at all times during the regular school day. If a student arrives at school and is not in compliance with the standard dress policy he/she will not be allowed to attend classes. The student will be detained and a parent will be called to bring appropriate clothing for the first violation. The second violation will result in a one-day in-school suspension; and subsequent violations will result in a conference with parents for further disciplinary consequences. (Note: elementary school principals may take special circumstances into consideration when there are violations of the standard dress policy.)
Approved by the Hardeman County Board of Education on January 9, 2014
In matters of opinion pertaining to both the standard dress policy for the students and the expectations for the staff, the judgment of the administrator will prevail.
Additional Policies For MES: ï‚· Tattoos (even fake tattoos) and visible body piercings are not allowed. Apparel with skull and cross bone designs is not permitted. This includes earrings, backpacks, coats/jackets, etc. Pony tails, shoulder length hair, hair covering the eyes, long braids, Mohawks, and designs cut in the hair are unacceptable for male students. Anything that is distracting or disrupts the instructional day will result in the student being sent home to make the necessary adjustments to their appearance. This includes any unnaturally dyed hair (green, pink, purple, blue, etc..) and hair styles. Leggings, tights, and knee socks – only solid white, black, or navy may be worn. ï‚· Sandals that go between the toes may be worn IF they have a strap on the back of them.
To respect the privacy of our families, we ask that you not take pictures of any child while on our school campus except your own. Many parents do not wish to have their children’s pictures published or placed on social media. Please help us honor their wishes.
WEBSITE Hardeman County Board of Education has a website to which all schools are linked – http://hcsedu.org In the left margin of the home page, click on Schools, then Middleton Elementary School to access our link. Our page will be updated monthly to keep you informed as to what is going on in the school.
VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT Meningococcal ACWY Vaccines-MenACWY and MPSV4: What You Need to Know Why get vaccinated? Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. It can lead to meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and infections of the blood. Meningococcal disease often occurs without warning-even among people who are otherwise healthy. Meningococcal disease can spread from person to person through close contact (coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact, especially among people living in the same household. There are at least 12 types of N. meningitidis, called “serogroups.” Serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y cause most meningococcal disease. Anyone can get meningococcal disease but certain people are at increased risk, including: Infants younger than one year old ï‚· Adolescents and young adult 16 through 23 years old ï‚· People with certain medical conditions that affect the immune system Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates of N. meningitidis People at risk because of an outbreak in their community
Even when it is treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 15 infected people out of 100. And of those who survive, about 10 to 20 out of every 100 will suffer disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidney damage, amputations, nervous system problems, or severe scars from skin grafts.
Meningococcal ACWY vaccines can help prevent meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y. A different meningococcal vaccine is available to help protect against serogroup B.
Meningococcal ACWY Vaccines
There are two kinds of meningococcal vaccines licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for protection against serogroups A, C, W, and Y: meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) and meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4).
Two doses of MenACWY are routinely recommended for adolescents 11 through 18 years old: the first dose at 11 or 12 years old, with a booster dose at age 16. Some adolescents, including those with HIV, should get additional doses. Ask your health care provider for more information.
In addition to routine vaccination for adolescents, MenACWY vaccine is also recommended for certain groups of people: ï‚· People at risk because of a serogroup A, C, W, or Y meningococcal disease outbreak ï‚· Anyone whose spleen is damaged or has been removed ï‚· Anyone with a rare immune system condition called “persistent complement component deficiency” ï‚· Anyone taking a drug called eculizumab (also called Soliris) ï‚· Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates of N. Meningitidis ï‚· Anyone traveling to, or living in, a part of the world where meningococcal disease is common, such as parts of Africa ï‚· College freshmen living in dormitories ï‚· U.S. military recruits
Children between 2 and 23 months old, and people with certain medical conditions need multiple doses for adequate protection. Ask your health care provider about the number and timing of doses, and the need for booster doses.
MenACWY is the preferred vaccine for people in these groups who are 2 months through 55 years old, have received MenACWY previously, or anticipate requiring multiple doses.
MPSV4 is recommended for adults older than 55 who anticipate requiring only a single dose (travelers, or during community outbreaks)
Some people should not get this vaccine.
Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine: If you have any severe, life-threatening allergies. If you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a previous dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine, or if you have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you should not get this vaccine. Your provider can tell you about the vaccine’s ingredients. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
There is not very much information about the potential risks of this vaccine for a pregnant woman or breastfeeding mother. It should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
If you have a mild illness, such as a cold, you can probably get the vaccine today. If you are moderately or severely ill, you should probably wait until you recover. Your doctor can advise you.
Risk of a vaccine reaction
With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days, but serious reactions are also possible.
As many as half of the people who get meningococcal ACWY vaccine have mild problems following vaccination, such as redness or soreness where the shot was given. If these problems occur, they usually last for 1 or 2 days. They are more common after MenACWY than after MPSV4.
A small percentage of people who receive the vaccine develop a mild fever.
Problems that could happen after any injected vaccine: ï‚· People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears. ï‚· Some people get severe pain in the shoulder and have difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This happens very rarely. ï‚· Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination. As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death.
The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety .
What if there is a serious reaction?
What should I look for? Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or unusual behavior. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness – usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
What should I do? If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can’t wait, call 9-1-1 and get to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor. Afterward, the reaction should be reported to the “Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System” (VAERS). Your doctor should file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS website at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967. VAERS does not give medical advice.
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal program that was created to compensate people who may have been injured by certain vaccines.
Persons who believe they may have been injured by a vaccine can learn about the program and about filing a claim by calling 1-800-338-2382 or visiting the VICP website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation. There is a time limit to file a claim for compensation.
How can I learn more?
Ask your health care provider. He or she can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information. Call your local or state health department. Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant): What you need to know
Why get vaccinated?
Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease that spreads around the United States every year, usually between October and May.
Flu is caused by influenza viruses, and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact.
Anyone can get flu. Flu strikes suddenly and can last several days. Symptoms vary by age, but can include: ï‚· Fever/chills ï‚· Sore throat ï‚· Muscle aches ï‚· Fatigue ï‚· Cough ï‚· Headache ï‚· Runny or stuffy nose Flu can also lead to pneumonia and blood infections, and cause diarrhea and seizures in children. If you have a medical condition, such as heart or lung disease, flu can make it worse.
Flu is more dangerous for some people. Infants and young children, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions or a weakened immune system are at greatest risk.
Each year thousands of people in the United States die from flu, and many more are hospitalized.
Flu vaccine can: ï‚· Keep you from getting flu, ï‚· Make flu less severe if you do get it, and ï‚· Keep you from spreading flu to your family and other people.
Inactivated and recombinant flu vaccines
A dose of flu vaccine is recommended every flu season. Children 6 months through 8 years of age may need two doses during the same flu season. Everyone else needs only one dose each flu season.
Some inactivated flu vaccines contain a very small amount of a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal. Studies have not shown thimerosal in vaccines to be harmful, but flu vaccines that do not contain thimerosal are available.
There is no live flu virus in flu shots. They cannot cause the flu. There are many flu viruses, and they are always changing. Each year a new flu vaccine is made to protect against three or four viruses that are likely to cause disease in the upcoming flu season. But even when the vaccine doesn’t exactly match these viruses, it may still provide some protection.
Flu vaccine cannot prevent: ï‚· Flu that is caused by a virus not covered by the vaccine, or ï‚· Illnesses that look like flu but are not.
It takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop after vaccination, and protection lasts through the flu season.
Some people should not get this vaccine.
Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine: ï‚· If you have any severe, life-threatening allergies. If you ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of flu vaccine, or have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you may be advised not to get vaccinated. Most, but not all, types of flu vaccine contain a small amount of egg protein. ï‚· If you ever had Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome (also called GBS) Some people with a history of GBS should not get this vaccine. This should be discussed with your doctor. ï‚· If you are not feeling well. It is usually okay to get flu vaccine when you have a mild illness, but you might be asked to come back when you feel better.
Risks of a vaccine reaction With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of reactions. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible.
Most people who get a flu shot do not have any problems with it. Minor problems following a flu shot include: soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, hoarseness, sore, red or itchy eyes, cough, fever, aches, headache, itching, fatigue. If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1 or 2 days.
More serious problems following a flu shot can include the following: ï‚· There may be a small increased risk of Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome (GBS) after inactivated flu vaccine. This risk has been estimated at 1 or 2 additional cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of severe complications from flu, which can be prevented by flu vaccine. ï‚· Young children who get the flu shot along with pneumococcal vaccine (PVC13) and/or DTaP vaccine at the same time might be slightly more likely to have a seizure caused by fever. Ask your doctor for more information. Tell your doctor if a child who is getting flu vaccine has ever had a seizure.
Problems that could happen after any injected vaccine: ï‚· People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears. ï‚· Some people get severe pain in the shoulder and have difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This happens very rarely. ï‚· Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination. As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death. The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety.
What if there is a serious reaction?
What should I look for? Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or unusual behavior. Signs of severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
What should I do? ï‚· If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can’t wait, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor. ï‚· Reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your doctor should file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS web site at www.vaers.hhs.gov. or by calling 1-800-822-7767. VAERS does not give medical advice.
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal program that was created to compensate people who may have been injured by certain vaccines Persons who believe they may have been injured by a vaccine can learn about the program and about filing a claim by calling 1-800-338-2382 or visiting the VICP website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation There is a time limit to file a claim for compensation.
How can I learn more?
Ask your healthcare provider. He or she can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
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