The clock is ticking for area students who have yet to comply with Pennsylvania's new immunization guidelines for the 2017-18 school year.

Lehighton Area School District will open its doors Tuesday and, as of Wednesday, officials are reporting paperwork has yet to be returned for 64 high school students.While the number seems high, Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said it is dropping by the day, having been over 80 less than a week ago."We've been touching base with parents constantly as we get closer to the start date and every day we are seeing more paperwork come in that the immunizations have been received or that an appointment has been made," Cleaver said. "That being said, we're making a last push to get everyone to get that information to us."The change in immunizations will affect high school students by requiring an additional dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (meningitis/MCV) given after age 16, but before the start of 12th grade. The first dose of the meningitis vaccine is given before entrance into seventh grade. At the same time in middle school, one dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) is required for the start of seventh grade. Also now required at all grade levels, a fourth dose of polio vaccine given on or after the child's fourth birthday and at least six months after the previous dose.From the time that school starts, families have five days to either have the immunizations up to date, or have a plan from a doctor to get them up to date. Under the old system, students had eight months to come into compliance.Other districts already in session are facing a similar dilemma."It can get pretty complicated due to the fact that certain immunizations are given to kids at different times of their lives," said Panther Valley Superintendent Dennis Kergick on Wednesday. "As of today, five students still need their final immunization. It had been about 12."Kergick said 17 elementary students still needed immunizations heading into Thursday."On the first day of school, students that needed one or more immunizations were informed by the school nurses that they would be excluded until the requirement was met," he added. "Unfortunately we are excluding some students until the requirement is met. We did have cooperation from St. Luke's Nesquehoning in assisting families in securing immunizations in the event that their physician could not address this issue."Jim Thorpe Area School District is waiting on paperwork from about 60 students."To date, no students have been excluded from school, but this number might change if the proper paperwork is not in place after Tuesday," Superintendent Brian Gasper said. "We hope to work with all parents to ensure that their children's education isn't disrupted."Less than 10 students districtwide are yet to receive the required immunizations in Palmerton. Superintendent Scot Engler said most, if not all, had made arrangements to receive them."We're in good shape," Engler said. "We really tried to drive home the importance of getting up to date on the immunizations and we've had an excellent response."Like the other districts, Lehighton is taking the new state requirements seriously."If we don't have paperwork for a student before the first day of school or they haven't shown that they have an appointment to get the required immunization, they will report to school, but we will contact the parents that they have to come get them," Cleaver said. "They won't be able to attend school until we have that information."More information on the immunization requirements is available on Lehighton's website,

www.lehighton.org.