This administrative rule change impacts mumps vaccination. Individuals are now required to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine before enrolling in school, college or university for the first time. However, any child entering school prior to July 1, 2008 is not required to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine.

Children were previously required to have only one dose of mumps vaccine. Most children already receive two doses of the MMR vaccine (measles-mumps-rubella) by age four. Therefore, this rule will primarily affect children who received single antigen doses of the vaccines. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, all children entering school for the first time will need to have received two doses of measles, two doses of mumps, and one dose of rubella vaccine prior to entry.

These rule changes will affect North Carolina's children, adolescents and teens for the 2008-09 school year. Though the responsibility of having the child immunized ultimately falls to the parent or guardian, school nurses are encouraged to do everything possible to reach the students (and their parents) who will need to be vaccinated prior to elementary, 6th grade, or college entry.