Immunizations & Health Room Forms

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus that was not identified in humans before December 2019. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild respiratory illnesses such as the common cold.

Most people will recover on their own, but some people can develop more serious complications, such as pneumonia, and require medical care or hospitalization. Older people and people with chronic illnesses are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Department of Health COVID-19 Information

Thurston County COVID Dashboard

What are the rules for masking at school?

Masks are currently optional in our schools and school buses. Students, staff, and volunteers may choose to wear masks based on their individual and community health needs. Individual mask choices should be respected.

Please note that masks will be required in certain school areas, such as in school health and isolation rooms.

Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk of serious flu complications.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months of age or older should get a flu vaccine every season.

Department of Health Flu Information

• Head lice can be found on the hairs of the head, behind the ears and back of the neck.
• Lice can live up to 24 hours off the body.
• Lice lay oval, whitish nits (eggs), not to be confused with dandruff which is flaky, or droplets of spray. The nits are usually found attached to hair at the back of the neck. Usually the live nits (eggs) will be found within ¼ inch of the scalp.

Department of Health Lice Information

How are lice spread?

Head lice cannot hop or jump, but are transmitted by close contact with infected articles such as hats, brushes, combs, pillows, backs of chairs, car seats or head-to-head contact with people who have lice. School children should not share clothing or other personal articles to prevent the transmission of head lice.

Myths about lice

MYTH: Lice prefer long hair. 
FACT: Short-haired people are equally vulnerable.

MYTH: Infected persons always experience persistent itching. 
FACT: A person may feel no discomfort whatsoever.

MYTH: Classroom contacts are the highest risk of infestation. 
FACT: Although classrooms are a source of spread, a higher risk is in the home.

MYTH: Lice generally affect only children under 15 years of age. 
FACT: Head lice can and do affect anyone, child or adult.

MYTH: The incidence of head lice is higher in low social-economic groups. 
FACT: Lice do not respect income levels.

MYTH: Lice infestation is proof of poor personal hygiene or a dirty home environment. 
FACT: Cleanliness is important, but lice infestation is a communicable pest, against which personal cleanliness is no safeguard.

Procedures for Treating Head Lice

• Examine and treat all household members at the same time.
• Use medicated rinse or shampoo for lice (Pediculocidal). If using NIX crème rinse, use after hair has been washed with shampoo, rinsed with water and towel dried. A sufficient amount should be applied to saturate hair and scalp. Leave on hair for 10 minutes. Rinse with water. If using a shampoo, apply a generous amount to dry hair, rub vigorously for 5-10 minutes, then add warm water, lather and rinse with water.
• Use only a lice comb or long-toothed comb approved by your health room staff to remove all nits from hair. Additional removal by hand is usually necessary. Continue to comb nightly for two weeks.
• A solution of warm water and vinegar (1:1) may be used to help loosen nits.

Personal Articles and Environment

• Wash all bedding, clothing and towels in the hottest water and/or air dry in a hot dryer (20 minutes). Toys that are slept with should also be cleaned.
• Non-washables should be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks.
• Soak all combs, brushes, etc. in hot (150° F) water and disinfectant (may use medicated shampoo or ammonia, Lysol, or other such cleansing agents) for 1 hour.
• Vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, bed mattresses, car seats and headrests and dispose of vacuum bag immediately.

Notify Others

Parents of children that have been in close contact with your child should be notified, especially if the children have had a sleepover or participated in activities involving body contact.

NTPS follows the state guidelines for AIDS education in schools. See RCW 28A.230.070 - AIDS education in public schools for more information.

What is HIV?

• The virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes AIDS by damaging the body's immune system, which normally protects people from disease.

What is AIDS?

• A viral syndrome which affects the immune system, making HIV infected persons susceptible to various diseases that would not harm a healthy immune system. It may take an HIV infected person up to 10 years before showing symptoms of AIDS.
• AIDS has a very high death rate. Currently, there is no cure.

Department of Health HIV/AIDS Information

Students age 11-18 years old are  at increased risk for a potentially fatal bacterial infection called meningococcal disease. This bacterial infection can lead to meningitis, which causes swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or to a serious blood infection.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends meningococcal vaccination at:

• 11 to 12 years old during the pre-adolescent doctor's visit
• High school entry
• College freshmen living in dormitories

Up to 83 percent of meningococcal infections among this age group are potentially vaccine-preventable. Vaccination is safe and effective, and can protect individuals against four of the five serogroups (A, C, Y, and W-135) of N. meningitides, the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease.

We encourage you and your adolescent or college-bound child to learn more about this disease and to speak with your physician about vaccination.

Department of Health Meningitis Information

Whooping cough (pertussis) is an illness that causes a severe cough and may last for months. Vaccination is the best protection.

Department of Health Whooping Cough Information