Chloe Ramirez
In Pennsylvania, children are required by law to be vaccinated to attend childcare and school. However, Pennsylvania also allows for medical, religious, or philosophical exemptions to these vaccination requirements. For children to be exempt from vaccinations, parents or guardians must object in writing based on religious grounds or strong moral or ethical convictions similar to a religious belief. If a child is not vaccinated and does not have a documented exemption, they may not be able to stay in a childcare setting for more than 60 days.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccination Requirements | Children must be vaccinated to attend childcare and school |
| Age Limit | Children aged 2 months and older |
| Exemption | Medical, religious, or philosophical exemption allowed |
| Documentation | Written documentation of exemption or vaccination required |
| Vaccination Records | Accessible through MyCHOP or by contacting the CHOP Primary Care office |
| Childcare Centers | Required to keep written documentation of vaccinations |
| Responsibility | Family responsible for obtaining and providing documentation to childcare staff |
| Medical Exemption Documentation | Provided by the child's healthcare team |
| Religious/Philosophical Exemption Documentation | Provided by parents, stating "religious grounds or ... a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief" |
| Exemption Time Limit | Without documentation, childcare centres can only keep unvaccinated children for 60 days |
| Vaccination Schedule | Varies by age, with additional immunizations for 7th and 12th-grade students |
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What You'll Learn
Childcare vaccination requirements
In Pennsylvania, children are required to have certain vaccinations to attend childcare and school. These requirements are outlined in PA State Law and are as follows:
According to PA Code 27.77, all children ages 2 months and older must have received the required vaccinations before their first day of childcare attendance. The specific vaccinations required may vary depending on the child's age, and this information can be found by visiting the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Recommended Vaccination Schedule.
If a child has not received the necessary vaccinations, documentation of a medical, religious, or philosophical exemption is needed. It is the responsibility of the family to obtain and provide this documentation to the childcare staff. Childcare centers must keep written records of all previous vaccinations, including the dates of each vaccination. This documentation must be provided by a physician or a state/local health department.
School Immunization Requirements:
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has listed several required immunizations for school-age children. These include:
- Four doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (one dose on or after the fourth birthday)
- Four doses of polio (the fourth dose on or after the fourth birthday and at least six months after the previous dose)
- One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of 12th grade if the child is 16 years old or older
It is important to note that these requirements may change over time, and it is recommended to refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's official website or consult with healthcare providers for the most up-to-date information.
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Religious, medical, and philosophical exemptions
Pennsylvania state law requires children aged two months and older to receive certain vaccinations before they can attend childcare. However, the state allows exemptions for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons.
Religious Exemptions
Parents or guardians can object in writing to their children receiving vaccinations on religious grounds. The objection must be based on "religious grounds or on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief." This exemption must be documented and provided to the childcare staff.
Medical Exemptions
Medical exemptions are provided by the child's healthcare team. This documentation must also be provided to the childcare provider and kept on file.
Philosophical Exemptions
Parents or guardians can also object to vaccinations based on non-religious philosophical beliefs. Similar to religious exemptions, this must be done in writing and based on "strong moral or ethical convictions similar to a religious belief." Childcare centres are required to keep written documentation of all exemptions.
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Vaccination documentation
In Pennsylvania, children aged 2 months and older must have received the required vaccinations to attend childcare group settings. If a child is unvaccinated, their parents or guardians must document a medical, religious, or philosophical exemption. This documentation must be provided to the childcare staff and include the dates of each vaccination, including the month, day, and year. Childcare centers are required to keep written documentation of previous vaccinations, which must be provided by a physician or the state or local health department that administered the vaccines.
Parents or guardians are generally responsible for obtaining and submitting vaccination records or exemption documentation. However, if your child's primary care provider is at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, you can use MyCHOP to access and print a copy of their vaccination records. Alternatively, you can request an access code by calling the CHOP Primary Care office.
In Pennsylvania, immunization information is kept in the Pennsylvania Immunization Electronic Registry System (PIERS), dating back to 2000. Participation in this registry is voluntary, but residents can request a copy of their immunization history through an online form or by emailing [email protected]. Additionally, schools and colleges often request documentation for incoming students, so childhood vaccine records may be available through these institutions.
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program in Pennsylvania provides vaccines to children without health insurance or whose insurance does not cover immunizations. This program ensures that eligible children can receive federally funded vaccines at various public sites, including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics.
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School immunisation requirements
In Pennsylvania, vaccinations are required for children to attend school. This regulation came into effect at the start of the 2017/18 school year. The Pennsylvania Department of Health lists the following as the mandatory immunisations for school-age children:
- Four doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (one dose on or after the fourth birthday).
- Four doses of polio (the fourth dose must be administered when the child is four years or older, and at least six months after the previous dose). This is usually given as DTP, DTaP, DT or Td, and the fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was given at age four or older and at least six months after the previous dose.
- MMR.
- In addition to the above, one dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) must be administered on the first day of seventh grade.
- One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) must be given on the first day of seventh grade.
- Another dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) is required on the first day of twelfth grade. If a dose was administered at 16 years or older, this will count as the required dose for twelfth-grade entry.
Although influenza, COVID-19 and subsequent boosters are not required by law, the state Department of Health encourages students and staff to receive annual flu vaccines. Immunisations can be obtained through pediatricians and local healthcare offices, and Pennsylvania's Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides immunisations for children without health insurance. Exemptions from vaccinations may be requested on medical, religious or philosophical grounds, but unvaccinated children may be removed from school during outbreaks.
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Recommended vaccination schedules
In Pennsylvania, children aged two months and older must have received the required vaccinations to attend childcare group settings. The specific vaccinations required vary by the child's age. Parents or guardians must provide written documentation of their child's vaccination record, which must include the dates of each vaccination, including the month, day, and year. This documentation must be provided by a physician or a state or local health department.
If parents or guardians object to vaccinations on religious or philosophical grounds, they must provide written documentation stating so. Medical exemptions are also allowed, in which case documentation must be provided by the child's healthcare team. Without documentation of vaccination or exemption, a childcare provider may not keep an unvaccinated child for more than 60 days.
The recommended vaccination schedule is dynamic and can change due to various reasons, including new vaccines, vaccine shortages, and updates to vaccine recommendations. The schedule outlines the recommended vaccines for different age groups and is designed to help navigate vaccine recommendations. It is the responsibility of the family to obtain and provide the necessary documentation to the childcare staff.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) provides resources for parents to access their child's vaccination records. If a child's primary care provider is at CHOP, parents can use MyCHOP to obtain a copy of their child's vaccination records. Alternatively, they can call their CHOP Primary Care office to request an access code.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, vaccinations are required for children to attend school in Pennsylvania. This has been the case since the 2017/18 school year.
Yes, exemptions can be made on medical, religious, or philosophical grounds. In these cases, parents or guardians must provide written documentation of their exemption reasons.
If your child is not vaccinated or exempt, they will not be allowed to stay in a childcare setting for more than 60 days.
