Trevor James
Indiana's immunization requirements for students are grade-based, not age-based. Students in all grades must meet minimum immunization requirements, and parents must provide evidence of immunity for their children to meet school entry requirements. While medical exemptions are allowed, they must be obtained for each school year and documented by a physician. Religious objections are also permitted, but they must be made in writing, signed by the parent, and delivered to the school. However, it's important to note that ACIP recommendations are not laws, and Indiana's code for immunization requirements for schools takes precedence. To ensure your child receives the necessary vaccinations, you can access your vaccine records through My VaxIndiana and set up a vaccination appointment at a local pharmacy or a provider enrolled in the Vaccines for Children program.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious exemption | Permitted if made in writing, signed by the child's parent, and delivered to the school |
| Medical exemption | Requires a physician's certification that a particular immunization may be detrimental to the child's health |
| School immunization requirements | Follow the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and are adopted by the CDC |
| Grade-based requirements | Indiana's school immunization requirements are grade-based, not age-based |
| Recommended vaccines | HPV, Meningococcal, Influenza, COVID-19, IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine), MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Varicella (VAR) |
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What You'll Learn
Indiana's school immunisation requirements
The Indiana State Department of Health determines the immunisations that constitute complete age-appropriate immunisations for each age group. Before November 30 of each year, the department publishes a two-year calendar of immunisation requirements and recommendations. The calendar includes the immunisation requirements for the following school year and recommendations for the year after that.
The state of Indiana allows for medical and religious exemptions from immunisations. A medical exemption is a physician's certification that a particular immunisation may be detrimental to the child's health. It must be stated in writing that the child has a medical contraindication to receiving a vaccine. The Indiana State Department of Health has a medical exemption form available on CHIRP that providers should use to document medical exemptions. As true medical contraindications to immunisation are vaccine-specific, medical exemptions must be written for each vaccine that is contraindicated.
A religious objection must be made in writing, signed by the child's parent, and delivered to the school. There is no requirement for proof. The objection must state that the objection to immunisation is based on religious grounds. To ensure the continued religious objection status for a student, schools must require written documentation of the religious objection each school year.
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Religious objections
In Indiana, a child is not permitted to attend school beyond the first day without furnishing a written record of immunization. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, one of which is a religious objection.
A religious objection must be made in writing, signed by the child's parent or guardian, and delivered to the school. Specifically, it must be delivered to the child's teacher or to the individual who might order an immunization. There is no requirement of proof, and there is no state form for a religious objection. The objection must state that the basis for the objection to immunization is religious. To ensure the continued religious objection status for a student, schools must require written documentation of the religious objection each school year. When a valid religious exemption is received by the school, the school nurse must document this exemption in CHIRP.
It is important to note that a religious objection does not exempt a child from any testing, examination, immunization, or treatment required unless the objection meets the aforementioned requirements. Additionally, a religious objection does not relieve a parent from reporting requirements.
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Medical exemptions
In Indiana, children in all grades are required to meet minimum immunization requirements. Immunization requirements extend to children aged 3 and above attending preschool, childcare, or special education programs within school buildings. The Indiana State Department of Health determines the immunizations that constitute complete age-appropriate immunizations for each age level.
However, Indiana allows medical exemptions for mandatory vaccinations. A medical exemption is a physician's certification that a particular immunization may be detrimental to the child's health. It must be stated in writing that the child has a medical contraindication to receiving a vaccine. The Indiana State Department of Health provides a medical exemption form on CHIRP, which providers should use to document medical exemptions. This form must be obtained for each school year, as many contraindications to vaccination are not permanent. Medical exemptions must be written for each vaccine that is contraindicated. When a valid medical exemption form is received, the school nurse must document this exemption in CHIRP.
According to the Indiana Department of Education, at the end of the 2017-2018 school year, 0.3% of students had a medical exemption. This means that out of the state's 1.2 million students, approximately 60,000 had not received vaccinations by the end of the 2017-2018 school year.
Dr. John Christenson, director of infection prevention at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, acknowledges that there are legitimate reasons to refuse vaccines, such as a compromised immune system due to cancer. However, he cautions that there is an entire industry dedicated to helping families obtain vaccination exemptions, which can lead to problems.
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Vaccines for children program
Indiana's Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federal initiative that provides vaccines at no cost to children who may not otherwise receive them due to financial constraints. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) purchases vaccines at a discount and distributes them to state health departments and local public health agencies. These agencies then supply the vaccines free of charge to enrolled VFC providers, including private physicians' offices, community health centres, and public health clinics.
Children eligible for VFC vaccines can receive all immunisations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). These vaccines protect infants, young children, and adolescents from 16 different diseases. The HPV vaccine, for instance, safeguards against Human Papillomavirus, which can lead to certain cancers. The HPV vaccine is recommended for ages 11-12 but can be administered as early as 9 years old. The MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine protects against measles, which can cause severe symptoms and even death. Measles is spread through the air, and the vaccine prevents flu-like symptoms and rashes.
Indiana's school immunisation requirements are grade-based, and students in all grades must meet minimum immunisation standards. Children aged 3 to 5 in special education programs, childcare, or preschool within school buildings are also subject to these requirements. Before November 30 of each year, the state health department publishes a two-year calendar outlining the immunisation mandates and suggestions for the upcoming school years.
Parents in Indiana can object to immunisations on religious grounds. Such objections must be in writing, signed by the parent, and delivered to the school or individual ordering the immunisation. Medical exemptions are also permitted with a physician's certification. However, as contraindications to immunisation may not be permanent, exemptions should be obtained annually.
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Recommended vaccines for children
In Indiana, school immunization requirements are grade-based, not age-based. Students in all grades are required to meet the minimum immunization requirements. Children aged 3 to 5 who attend preschool, childcare, or special education programs within a school building are also subject to these requirements. Before entering the sixth grade, students should receive the Tdap and MCV4 vaccines, which count towards adolescent requirements if administered when the child is 10 years old or older.
The Indiana State Department of Health determines the immunizations that constitute complete age-appropriate immunizations for each age group. For example, the state requires that children in childcare programs receive the conjugated pneumococcal vaccine and either the varicella vaccine or demonstrate immunity to varicella.
The Indiana State Department of Health publishes a two-year calendar of immunization requirements and recommendations for the upcoming school years. This calendar includes the immunizations required for the following school year and the recommendations for the year after that.
The state of Indiana allows medical and religious exemptions to mandatory vaccination. A medical exemption must be in writing from a physician, stating that the immunization may be detrimental to the child's health. A religious exemption must be in writing, signed by the child's parent, and delivered to the school. It must also state that the objection is based on religious grounds.
- Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): This vaccine protects against the polio virus, which can cause flu-like symptoms and lead to meningitis and paralysis of the legs and arms.
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): This vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, all of which are highly contagious and can cause serious health complications.
- Varicella (VAR): The VAR vaccine protects against chickenpox, which is spread through the air from person to person.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV): The HPV vaccine is recommended for children aged 11-12 and can be started as early as age 9. It protects against a group of more than 150 related viruses that can lead to certain cancers.
- Meningococcal Vaccine: This vaccine protects against Neisseria meningitidis, which causes infections in the brain, spinal cord, and blood.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. School immunization requirements in Indiana follow the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and are adopted by the CDC. Students in all grades must meet the minimum immunization requirements. Immunization requirements extend to children ages 3 through 5 attending special education programs, child care, or preschool within the school building. The student should receive the Tdap and MCV4 vaccines prior to entering 6th grade.
Yes, there are two types of exemptions: medical and religious. A medical exemption is a physician’s certification that a particular immunization may be detrimental to the child’s health. A religious objection must state that the objection to immunization is based on religious grounds. Both types of exemptions must be in writing, signed by the child's parent, and delivered to the school.
You can take a quick quiz on the Indiana State Government website to find out which vaccines your child may need. You can also contact your state’s vaccine tracking registry to determine if the ability to opt out is available.
