Established Evidence Results

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Enforcement of School Rules School Rules Assessment

Intervention Description: the study compares the proportions of provisional enrollment, medical and non-medical exemptions, and required vaccine receipt before and after the new regulations were implemented. Moving the vaccination requirement from 8 months to 5 days.

Intervention Results: The study found that after the reduced provisional period was introduced at the beginning of the 2017/18 school year, the statewide rate of provisional enrollment at kindergarten and seventh grade immediately decreased from 11.1% to 2.5% (a 77% relative decrease) 6 [Page 6]. The study also found that the percent of students entering kindergarten and seventh grade not up-to-date on vaccination decreased from 14.1% in 2016/17 to 6.1% in 2017/18 6 [Page 6]. Among kindergartners, following the provisional period reduction, there were increases in uptake of ≥2 doses of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine and 2 doses of the Varicella vaccine. Among 7th graders, the largest improvements were seen for the first MCV (meningococcal vaccine) dose and first Tdap/TD (Tetanus and diphtheria) vaccine dose 6 [Page 6]. The study also found that the new regulations in Pennsylvania are accomplishing the goal of increasing the proportion of students who are up-to-date or in compliance with requirements for vaccines at the beginning of the school year without a significant increase in exemption rates 9 [Page 9].

Conclusion: The study concludes that the new regulations in Pennsylvania are accomplishing the goal of increasing the proportion of students who are up-to-date or in compliance with requirements for vaccines at the beginning of the school year without a significant increase in exemption rates 6 [Page 9]. The study also suggests that vaccination policies/regulations that focus on children who have started, but not completed, required vaccine series have shown to be an effective approach to increase vaccination rates at school entry 9 [Page 9]. However, the persistence of high provisional enrollment in some counties points to additional barriers to this goal in some schools and regions

Study Design: retrospective analysis of vaccination data collected from school districts in Pennsylvania from the 2014/15 school year through the 2017/18 school year for kindergartners and 7th graders

Setting: The study was conducted in Pennsylvania, United States.

Population of Focus: Researchers, scholars, healthcare professionals, and individuals with an interest in biomedical and health-related topics.

Sample Size: The study analyzed vaccination data reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for all students in kindergarten and seventh grade in the state during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 school years.

Age Range: 5/13/2024