news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Last year, more than 1,000 sixth-graders — roughly one of every five countywide — failed to provide proof of a key vaccination by the day of the deadline, and hundreds found themselves turned away from school.

This year went a little more smoothly. Only 201 students hadn’t provided documentation of the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccination as of Thursday, according to Guilford County Schools.

Several schools had no students who still needed the vaccination.

“We did much better,” said school spokeswoman Haley Miller . “Schools have been working really hard encouraging parents to get the vaccines.”

State law set Thursday as the deadline for sixth-graders to provide documentation they had received the Tdap booster shot.

Students who arrived at school without it were sent home. Schools called parents and asked them to pick up children, or in some cases drove students back to their homes, Miller said.

Until students show proof of vaccination, they won’t be allowed to return.

Officials expect the remaining shots to go quickly, however.

“Now all parents know,” Miller said.

Each of the county’s middle schools had fewer than 30 students without the vaccination this year, according to the school district.

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com