A reminder that starting in the 2018- 2019 school year, all students entering, advancing, or transferring into seventh grade and twelfth grade in Maine public and private schools must have proof that they have the age appropriate meningococcal vaccines (MCV4) serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

One dose of MCV4 is required for all students entering seventh grade. Two doses of MCV4 are required for students entering twelfth grade, with a minimum of eight weeks between dose one and dose two.

If the first dose of MCV4 was admin- istered on or after the sixteenth birthday, a second dose is not required. If a student entering twelfth grade is 15 years of age or younger, only one dose is required.

Parents are encouraged to make an appointment for their incoming seventh and twelfth grade children to get a meningococcal vaccination as soon as possible. Children will need proof of this vaccination in order to attend a Maine public or private school this fall.

Parents may opt-out for medical, religious or philosophical reasons by filling out an exemption form. Contact the Gorham School Department for more information.

For further questions, contact the Maine Immunization Program at (207) 287-3746, (800) 867-4775 or by email at ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov.