Section 281.33.5. Immunization requirements.

Consistent with the provisions of Iowa Code section 139A.8 and rules of the department of public health, a public school shall not refuse to enroll or exclude a homeless child or youth for lack of immunization records if any of the following situations exist.

The parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth or a homeless child or youth:

        1.            Offers a statement signed by a doctor licensed by the state board of medical examiners specifying that in the doctor’s opinion the immunizations required would be injurious to the health and well-being of the child or youth or to any member of the child or youth’s family or household.

        2.            Provides an affidavit stating that the immunization conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized religious denomination of which the homeless child or youth is a member or adherent, unless the state board of health has determined and the director of health has declared an emergency or epidemic exists.

        3.            Offers a statement that the child or youth has begun the required immunizations and is continuing to receive the necessary immunizations as rapidly as is medically feasible, or

        4.            States that the child or youth is a transfer student from any other school, and that school confirms the presence of the immunization record.

The school district shall make every effort to locate or verify the official immunization records of a homeless child or youth based upon information supplied by the child, youth, parent, or guardian. In circumstances where it is admitted that the homeless child or youth has not received some or all of the immunizations required by state law for enrollment and none of the exemptions listed above is applicable, the district shall refer the child, youth, and parent or guardian to the local board of health for the purpose of immunization, and the school shall provisionally enroll the child or youth in accordance with item “3” or “4” above.