Vaccinating Your Baby In Connecticut: What You Need To Know

do you have to vaccine your baby in connecticut

Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect your child from serious diseases. In Connecticut, all doctors and healthcare providers who vaccinate children under the age of 19 participate in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP) and can advise on the necessary vaccines for your child. The state has laws requiring children to receive certain vaccines before enrolling in school or daycare, and healthcare providers must report administered vaccines to the state's Immunization Information System (IIS), such as Connecticut's CT WiZ. While Connecticut does not mandate vaccination, it does require specific immunizations for children to attend school or daycare.

Characteristics Values
Vaccination Requirements for Babies Vaccines are required for children to attend school or daycare.
Healthcare Provider Participation All doctors and healthcare providers vaccinating children under 19 participate in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP).
Immunization Laws Connecticut has immunization laws, including the Child Immunization Standard of Care and Programs, and the Vaccines and Antibiotic Purchase and Childhood Immunization Registry.
CT WiZ Reporting Connecticut requires doctors to report administered vaccines through CT WiZ, which does not violate HIPAA requirements.
Medical Exemptions Medical exemption reporting is required, and healthcare providers must bring students up to date on required vaccines.
COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Childcare professionals and staff in Connecticut are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine as of March 1, 2021.

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Connecticut's vaccination laws

Vaccination is a highly recommended way to protect yourself and your baby from serious diseases. While Connecticut does not require babies to be vaccinated, there are laws in place regarding immunizations for school-aged children.

According to Connecticut General Statutes § 10-204a, each local or regional board of education or similar body governing a public or nonpublic school must ensure that each child is adequately immunized before enrolling. The required immunizations include:

  • Diphtheria
  • Pertussis
  • Tetanus
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B

Additionally, children must receive a second immunization against measles before entering the seventh grade. The state also allows for temporary waivers for vaccine requirements in cases of a nationwide shortage of a particular vaccine, as recognized by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All doctors and healthcare providers in Connecticut who vaccinate children under 19 years of age participate in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP). This program ensures that your child can receive the recommended vaccines throughout their childhood and adolescence.

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Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your baby from serious diseases. Vaccines are recommended throughout a child's life, and all doctors and healthcare providers in Connecticut who vaccinate children under 19 participate in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP) and can advise on and administer the necessary vaccines.

Birth to 2 years old

  • Hepatitis B (HepB)
  • Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV13)
  • Rotavirus (RV)
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
  • Varicella (Chickenpox)

4-6 years old

  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP)
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (MMRV)

11-12 years old

  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY)
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap)

16-18 years old

At this age, it is recommended to ensure your child is up to date with all the previous vaccines and to get any that they may have missed. In addition, the following vaccines are recommended for this age group:

  • Meningitis B
  • Influenza (flu)
  • COVID-19

Please note that this list may not be exhaustive, and it is always best to consult with a healthcare provider for the most up-to-date and personalized recommendations for your child's vaccinations.

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Vaccination for babies and children

Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your children from serious diseases. While the state of Connecticut does not mandate vaccination, there are laws that require children to get certain vaccines before they can enrol in school or daycare. These laws also require doctors to report administered vaccines to the state through their Immunization Information System (IIS), such as Connecticut's CT WiZ. All doctors and healthcare providers in Connecticut who vaccinate children under 19 years of age participate in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP) and can advise on and administer the necessary vaccines for your child.

Vaccines are recommended throughout a child's life, starting from birth. Healthcare providers will determine the recommended vaccine by age, the recommended interval for catch-up vaccination, and any additional vaccines that may be required based on medical conditions or other indications. They will also review vaccine types, frequencies, intervals, and any special considerations or precautions. For example, doses of any vaccine administered earlier than the minimum age or minimum interval should not be counted as valid and should be repeated as age-appropriate.

It is especially important to ensure your child is fully vaccinated if they are a college student, particularly if they are living in a dormitory or shared space. This is because large groups of people in close proximity provide ideal conditions for the spreading of diseases, including those that are vaccine-preventable.

If you need help finding a healthcare provider for your child, you can view the CT Vaccine Provider List to find a CVP provider near you or call (860) 509-7929.

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Required vaccines for school

Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your child from serious diseases. In Connecticut, all doctors and healthcare providers vaccinating children under 19 participate in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP). This program helps parents find out which vaccines are recommended for their child based on their age.

Every state in the US has laws requiring children to receive certain vaccines before they can enrol in school or daycare. In Connecticut, the CT WiZ is the Immunization Information System (IIS) that doctors must report administered vaccines to. The state also has a Childhood Immunization Program and a Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) to help schedule vaccine appointments.

Connecticut has recently repealed non-medical exemptions, meaning that all children must be vaccinated to enrol in school unless they have a medical exemption. The state provides guidance for healthcare providers to bring students from Pre-K through grade 12 into compliance for required vaccines. This includes a schedule for in-process required school immunizations and a certification of in-process immunizations for Pre-K students with religious exemptions.

Connecticut has also prioritized vaccinating educators and staff for Pre-K through 12th grade, as well as childcare professionals, to help prevent the spread of disease in schools.

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COVID-19 vaccine eligibility

As of 2025, there is uncertainty around COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in the United States, particularly in Connecticut, due to changes in vaccine guidance by the Trump administration.

Previously, in 2021, Connecticut was in Phase 1a of its statewide vaccine rollout, with eligible citizens including healthcare personnel, long-term care facility residents, and medical first responders. The state planned to move to Phase 1b in January 2021, providing vaccinations for those 75 and older.

However, as of 2025, the situation has evolved. While COVID-19 vaccines are still available, eligibility criteria have changed. CVS Pharmacy, for example, is not offering COVID-19 vaccinations in some states, even if individuals meet the eligibility criteria, due to state-level pharmacy regulations. In certain states, pharmacists are forbidden from administering vaccines that are not recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. As of September 8, 2025, an authorized prescriber's prescription is required for COVID-19 vaccinations in several states, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia.

Regarding babies and young children, the eligibility criteria have also changed over time. In 2024, anyone aged 6 months or older could receive a COVID-19 vaccine. As of 2025, Moderna's Spikevax vaccine is approved for children as young as 6 months but only if they have an underlying condition that increases their risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children aged 6 months to 23 months receive a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have known allergies to the vaccine or its ingredients.

It is important to note that the landscape of vaccine eligibility is constantly evolving, and individuals should refer to official sources and healthcare providers for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in Connecticut.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, every state has laws that require children to get certain vaccines before they can go to school or daycare. All doctors and healthcare providers in Connecticut who vaccinate children under 19 years of age participate in the Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP) and can give your child the vaccines they need.

You can find a healthcare provider for your child through the CT Vaccine Provider List or by calling (860) 509-7929. Doctors in Connecticut report vaccines administered to the state through their Immunization Information System (IIS), such as Connecticut's CT WiZ.

Yes, there are medical and religious exemptions to vaccination requirements in Connecticut. However, as of April 15, 2025, non-medical exemptions have been repealed.

Yes, licensed pharmacists in Connecticut can administer vaccines. However, it is recommended that you consult a healthcare provider to determine the recommended vaccine and interval for your child's specific needs.

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