Nearly 130 Guilford County School Students Barred From Class Over Vaccine Requirements

Over a hundred students in Guilford County Schools weren't allowed to return to school Thursday. They cannot return to class until they can show documentation for required vaccinations.

State law says seventh-grade students need to get two vaccines: the Tdap booster, which offers protection from whooping cough and other diseases, and the MCV for meningitis. Students are required to submit medical forms showing they've been immunized.

Guilford County School officials say nearly 130 didn't do that, and Robin Bergeron-Nolan, with Guilford County Schools, says they're not sure why so many students missed the deadline.

“We really want to minimize the number of days that they are not able to be in school for not having the vaccination, so we are scrambling and really working hard with the parent and school community to make that happen,” says Bergeron-Nolan.

Guilford County began sending notices in the spring. Health officials say a child can only be exempted for a medical reason or religious belief.

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