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Required Vaccines for Entry into Kindergarten and Later Grades
Four common childhood vaccines—DTaP, MMR, polio, and varicella—are required for children to enroll
in kindergarten in almost every state.
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Many states require the meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine for
entry into later grades, often at 7th grade.
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Some states require additional vaccines, either for entry into
kindergarten or for entry into later grades.
Alaska is one of several states that require hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines for entry into
kindergarten: “Before entry in a state public school district or nonpublic school offering pre-
elementary education through the 12th grade, or any combination of these grades, a child shall
be immunized against (1) diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, measles, mumps, hepatitis A,
hepatitis B, and rubella, except rubella is not required in children 12 years of age or older; and
(2) beginning July 1, 2009, varicella.”
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For entry into later grades, Rhode Island requires the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine,
according to the following schedule: “Beginning August 1, 2015, all students entering seventh
(7th) grade shall be required to have at least one (1) dose of the HPV vaccine series. Beginning
August 1, 2016, all students entering eighth (8th) grade shall be required to have at least two
(2) doses of the HPV vaccine series. Beginning August 1, 2017, all students entering ninth (9th)
grade shall be required to have completed the HPV vaccine series (3 doses).”
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Acceptable Proof of Immunization
State laws vary on the types of acceptable proof of immunization for enrollment in grades K-12. Among the
different types of acceptable documentation are medical records, a health department or school form, information
from the state’s Immunization Information System (IIS), or a “certificate of immunization,” which may be issued by,
for example, a state health department or a physician’s office.
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In a few states, a parental report is allowed.
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Kentucky requires a “current Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization,” which “shall be
issued by: (a) A physician licensed in any state; (b) An advanced practice registered nurse licensed in any
state; (c) A physician assistant licensed in Kentucky; (d) A pharmacist licensed in Kentucky; (e) A local health
department in Kentucky; (f) A licensed healthcare facility administering immunizations in Kentucky; or (g) An
authorized user of the Kentucky Immunization Registry.”
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Minnesota allows for substitution of a parental report in place of other records: “A person who is enrolling
or enrolled in an elementary or secondary school . . . may substitute a statement from . . . a parent or
guardian if the person is a minor child in lieu of the statement from a physician or public clinic which
provides immunizations. If the statement is from a parent or guardian or emancipated person, the
statement must indicate the month and year of each immunization given.
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7
See, e.g., Ark. Code R. § 005.15.23-3.0; 6 Colo. Code. Regs §1009-2; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-2-2-.02; Md. Code
Regs. 10.06.04.03. DTaP protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough); MMR protects
against measles, mumps, and rubella. The only state that does not require all the listed vaccines is Iowa, which
does not require a mumps vaccine. Iowa Code § 139A.8.
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E.g., Del. Admin. Code § 804; 05-071-26 Me. Code R. § 5; 216 R.I. Code R. § 30-0503.5.
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Alaska Admin. Code tit 4, § 06.055(a)(1).
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216 R.I. Code R. § 30-05-3.5.
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See, e.g., Alaska Admin. Code tit. 4, § 06.055; Ark. Admin. Code § 005.15.23-4.0; 902 Ky. Admin. Regs 2:060; S.C.
Code Ann. Regs. R. 61-8; Vt. Admin. Code § 12-5-5:9.0.
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See, e.g., Minn. Stat. § 121A.15(Subd.4); Or. Rev. Stat. § 433.267(1)(a).
13
902 Ky. Admin. Regs 2:060.
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Minn. Stat. § 121A.15(Subd.4).