Trevor James
Vaccination laws vary depending on the state and the school district. All states require children to be vaccinated against certain diseases as a condition for school attendance, but some states offer exemptions for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons. For example, in New York State, all children must be fully vaccinated to attend public, private, or religious schools, unless they have a valid medical exemption. In Massachusetts, there are higher exemption rates in the western and southeast parts of the state, particularly in the Cape and Islands. In Illinois, children enrolling in school for the 2025-2026 school year must have received a booster dose of the DTaP vaccine on or after their fourth birthday. In Florida, children entering the 7th grade must have received two doses of the varicella vaccine, unless there is a history of varicella disease documented by a healthcare provider.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccination requirements for school children | State laws establish vaccination requirements for school children. All states require children to be vaccinated against certain communicable diseases as a condition for school attendance. |
| Exemptions | State laws offer exemptions to school vaccination requirements, including medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions, or some combination of these. |
| Vaccination schedule | Children must receive all required doses of vaccines on a recommended schedule. |
| Vaccination history | Schools will check a child's vaccination history when they start kindergarten, 7th grade, and 12th grade. |
| Medical exemptions | A medical exemption is allowed when a child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving a vaccine. |
| Religious exemptions | Religious exemptions are allowed in some states, such as Massachusetts. |
| Non-medical exemptions | Non-medical exemptions vary by state. For example, New York does not allow non-medical exemptions, while Washington State allows a philosophical exemption for all vaccines except MMR. |
| Required vaccines | Required vaccines vary by state and school district but may include MMR, polio, varicella, meningococcal conjugate vaccine, and DTaP/Tdap. |
| Dose intervals | Minimum ages and intervals between doses are specified for certain vaccines. For example, at least four weeks between the first three doses of DTaP and at least six months between the third and fourth doses. |
| Booster doses | Booster doses may be required for certain vaccines, such as DTaP/Tdap and meningococcal conjugate vaccine. |
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What You'll Learn
State laws and requirements
State laws establish vaccination requirements for school children, and these laws often apply not only to children attending public schools but also to those attending private, parochial, and other types of schools. All states require children to be vaccinated against certain communicable diseases as a condition for school attendance. However, state laws also offer exemptions to school vaccination requirements, including medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions, or some combination of these. For example, in New York State, children must receive all required doses of vaccines unless they have a valid medical exemption. In Massachusetts, most exemptions claimed are religious exemptions.
In North Carolina, all children are required to get certain vaccines, and this requirement applies to all schools, including public, private, and religious schools. Kentucky requires a "current Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization," which must be issued by a licensed healthcare professional or an authorized user of the Kentucky Immunization Registry. Minnesota allows for substitution of a parental report in place of other records, permitting a statement from a parent or guardian if the person is a minor child instead of a statement from a physician or public clinic.
In Florida, children entering, attending, or transferring to the 7th grade must complete two doses of the varicella vaccine, unless there is a history of varicella disease documented by a healthcare provider. Illinois has detailed age-based requirements for each vaccine, with children aged 7–18 years who have never been vaccinated against pertussis, tetanus, or diphtheria required to receive a series of three tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines, including at least one Tdap dose.
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Exemptions and substitutions
In the United States, state laws establish vaccination requirements for school children. While all states require children to be vaccinated against certain communicable diseases as a condition for school attendance, most state school vaccination laws also offer exemptions, including medical, religious, and philosophical grounds, or some combination of these.
Medical Exemptions
A medical exemption is allowed when a child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving a vaccine. In New York, for example, children must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule to attend or remain in school unless they have a valid medical exemption. In Washington, medical exemptions require the approval of the State Health Director only if based on a contraindication not on the list adopted by the Commission of Public Health.
Religious Exemptions
Some states, like Kentucky, require a "Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization" issued by a licensed physician, nurse, physician assistant, pharmacist, or healthcare facility in the state, or an authorized user of the Kentucky Immunization Registry.
Philosophical Exemptions
Some states, like Washington, allow philosophical exemptions, although these may not be used to exempt a child from the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Substitutions
In Minnesota, a person enrolling in elementary or secondary school may substitute a statement from a parent or guardian in place of a statement from a physician or public clinic that provides immunizations.
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Vaccines for specific states
State laws establish vaccination requirements for school children. These laws often apply not only to children attending public schools but also to those attending private schools and daycare facilities. All states require children to be vaccinated against certain communicable diseases as a condition for school attendance. However, the specific vaccines required may vary by state.
In New York State, for example, all children attending daycare and pre-K through 12th grade must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule, unless they have a valid medical exemption. There are no non-medical exemptions to school vaccine requirements in New York State.
Similarly, North Carolina law requires that all children receive certain vaccines to protect themselves and others from getting sick. Schools will check that children have their needed vaccines when they start kindergarten, 7th grade, and 12th grade.
Some states, like Washington, may allow for religious or philosophical exemptions to certain vaccines, such as the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Other states, like New York, only allow medical exemptions with approval from the State Health Director.
To find out the specific vaccination requirements for your state, it is recommended to review the state's statutes and regulations regarding school vaccinations, as well as the CDC's Public Health Law Program (PHLP) resources on state school and childcare vaccination laws.
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Vaccines for specific ages
The specific vaccines and ages vary depending on the state and country. However, here is a general overview of some of the commonly required vaccines for children of specific ages for school entry:
Birth to 12 Months
The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended within 24 hours of birth. The birth through 12 months infant vaccine schedule is crucial for protecting newborns from various diseases.
First Year
During their first year of life, children should receive three doses of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine, with at least four weeks between each dose.
By the Second Birthday
By their second birthday, children should have received a fourth dose of the DTaP vaccine, acting as a booster.
7 Years and Older
From the age of 7, children should receive Tdap or Td vaccines instead of DTaP. If a child aged 7-18 has never been vaccinated against pertussis, tetanus, or diphtheria, they should receive a series of three tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines, including at least one Tdap dose.
11 Years and Older
The Tdap vaccine is typically administered at 11-12 years of age. Adolescents should also receive the HPV vaccine at this age if they haven't been vaccinated earlier.
16 Years and Older
Two doses of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine are required, with the second dose given on or after the child's 16th birthday and at least eight weeks after the first dose.
It is important to note that these are general guidelines, and specific requirements may vary by region. Please refer to official health sources for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding vaccine schedules and requirements for your specific location.
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Vaccines for specific schools
State laws in the US establish vaccination requirements for school children, and these laws often apply to children attending public, private, parochial, and other types of schools. All states require children to be vaccinated against certain communicable diseases as a condition for school attendance. However, the specific vaccines required may vary depending on the state and the school.
For example, in New York State, children attending daycare and pre-K through 12th grade must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule unless they have a valid medical exemption. This includes all public, private, and religious schools. Similarly, Illinois has minimum immunization requirements for children enrolling in childcare facilities or schools, with specific guidelines for vaccines like DTaP, Tdap, and meningococcal conjugate vaccine.
On the other hand, states like Kentucky require a "Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization" issued by a licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, pharmacist, local health department, or licensed healthcare facility within the state. Minnesota allows for a parental report to be substituted in place of other records for children enrolling in elementary or secondary school.
It is important to note that while most states offer medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions from school vaccination requirements, there may be variations and specific conditions for each state and school system. For instance, Washington State has a philosophical exemption, but it cannot be used to exempt a child from the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Therefore, it is essential to review the specific requirements and exemptions for your state and school district to ensure your child is compliant with the necessary vaccinations for their education.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all children must get certain vaccines before starting school. This helps protect themselves and others from getting sick.
Yes, state laws offer exemptions to school vaccination requirements, including medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions.
Vaccines for Children program locations have free vaccines for those who qualify.
The specific vaccine requirements vary by state and school district. For example, in Illinois, children enrolling in school must have received three doses of the DTaP vaccine by age one, while in Florida, two doses of the Varicella vaccine are required for kindergarten entry.
You can contact your local health department or visit the CDC website, which provides information on state laws and requirements for school vaccinations.
