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201.1 TANF MANUAL 10/22 Page 2a

The receiving agency shall not impose an immunization penalty unless the transferring locality initiated the penalty or the receiving locality's redetermination occurs at least six months after notification of the requirement.

4. Verification - Workers should attempt to use the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) to verify childhood immunizations whenever possible. When the VIIS verification has returned no results, or when the client disagrees with the VIIS results, then workers should use the Childhood Immunization Certification form (032-03-0960) to verify receipt of immunizations. Physicians or medical personnel should complete this form indicating that the child is age appropriately immunized, medically exempt, or in the process of being brought up to date.

If the client provides another form of verification that does not clearly indicate whether or not the child has the required immunizations, the worker should seek assistance by contacting the locality's Immunization Action Plan coordinator at the Health Department, or by calling the Bureau of Immunization hotline at 1- 800-568-1929.

5. Exemptions - If the eligible child meets any one of the following criteria, he is exempt from immunization verification requirements:

a. The child is enrolled in school (public school, private or parochial school, or Head Start classes operated by the school division), or has been enrolled in school up to grade six;

b. The child is enrolled in a licensed family day home or a licensed child day center;

c. The parent of the child objects on the grounds that the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with his religious tenets or practices. Note: The parent or caretaker relative shall provide a signed statement attesting to the objection to immunizations based on religious tenets or practices, or verification must be obtained from the local school division of receipt of an affidavit attesting to the parent’s or caretaker relative’s objection to immunizations based on religious tenets or practice; or

d. The parent or guardian of the child presents a statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in Virginia which states that the physical condition of the child is such that the administration of one or more of the required immunizing agents could be detrimental to the health of the child.

(1) If a child is exempt from meeting the immunization requirements under part d. above, then the caretaker/ relative shall provide the local department of social services with a plan developed by the child's physician or the local health department for completing the immunizations.

(2) The caretaker/relative must verify compliance with the plan for completing the immunizations at subsequent redeterminations of eligibility for TANF until the child has received all required immunizations. If a child is not in compliance with the plan for completing immunizations, the worker must reduce the TANF payment.

TANF Transmittal 75