News Release SBOH 07-012

For immediate release: November 9, 2007

Contact: Heather Boe, State Board of Health 360-236-4104

Board discusses school health and safety, immunizations
Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Olympia Red Lion, 2300 Evergreen Park Drive, Olympia WA 98502

At its meeting Wednesday, November 14, in Olympia, the state Board of Health will hear a summary of public comments received on a second discussion draft of possible revisions to the school environmental health and safety rule. The board will hear an update on the Vibrio parahaemolyticus control strategy it adopted as an emergency rule in May 2007 to help reduce vibriosis illnesses caused by eating raw or undercooked oysters. And the board will consider amending its rule about immunizing children in child care centers and schools. The proposed rule change would allow child care centers and schools to accept documentation from a health care provider saying that a person has already had varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, and so does not need the vaccination.

Other November topics include possible adoption of the board’s 2007-09 strategic plan, a presentation from the Office of the Education Ombudsman, and a briefing by the Department of Ecology about the state’s persistent bio-accumulative toxins strategy. And the Department of Health will make a presentation on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The meeting is open and the public is invited to provide testimony on any public health issue at 3:40 p.m. Copies of the agenda and related materials are available by contacting the state Board of Health at 360-236-4110 or on the Board of Health Web site (www.sboh.wa.gov). The emergency and media contact number for the board during the meeting is 360-701-2398.

# # #

The Board’s mission is to provide statewide leadership in advancing policies that protect and improve the public’s health. It does this by reviewing and monitoring the health status of all people in Washington; analyzing policies, providing guidance, and developing rules; promoting system partnerships; and encouraging public engagement in the public health system. For more information, visit the Board of Health Web site (www.sboh.wa.gov/).