Immunizations

Immunization Requirements

A healthy school setting gives all students the best chance to learn and grow. Vaccines are very important to this effort. They protect children from getting and spreading diseases that can make them very sick. For this reason, we require children aged 2-months to 18-years-old who are entering or attending child care, public school, or private school be vaccinated against certain diseases.

The number of vaccine doses your child needs may vary. It depends on:

  • age,
  • grade,
  • medical history, and
  • if they have gotten vaccine doses before.

Talk to your child’s health care provider for more information.

 

Children under age five enrolled in child care and pre-kindergarten (pre-K)

  • Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b),
  • PCV (pneumococcal conjugate), and
  • Influenza (flu).
    • Children must receive the flu vaccine by December 31, 2020. It is best to vaccinate your child as soon as the vaccine becomes available. It becomes available in early fall.

All students, from those in child care through grade 12

  • The DTaP (diphtheria- tetanus-pertussis),
  • Poliovirus,
  • MMR (measles-mumps-rubella),
  • Varicella, and
  • Hepatitis B.

Children in grades 6–12

• The Tdap booster and MenACWY (meningococcal conjugate) vaccines.

Immunization Compliance

New York State Public Health Law requires students to get certain vaccines in order to attend child care or school. 

Why Your Child Needs to be Vaccinated

Vaccines prevent your child from getting infections in school and from spreading diseases to other children.

For this reason, your child will not be allowed to go to school if they have not received the required vaccines for the school year.

What Happens if your Child is Missing Required Vaccines

Your child’s school will notify you if they are missing any required vaccines. The notice will tell you how many days you have to get your child vaccinated. If your child is not vaccinated before the final day, they will be excluded from attending school.

You should bring the notice to child’s health care provider to have your child vaccinated.

To allow your child to return to school, show your child’s school a vaccine record proving that they have received the required vaccines.

Exemptions

If your child is not yet immunized against all required diseases, there are a few situations in which they may still be allowed to attend school.

In Process

Some vaccine doses need to be taken at specific time intervals. For example, your child may be given a vaccine and told to wait one month before receiving a second vaccine. Your child will still be allowed to attend school during the waiting period if:

  • your child has received the first dose of each school-required vaccine, and
  • you are told by a medical provider to wait for the follow-up doses.

Medical Exemptions

Vaccines are proven to be very safe. Read more about vaccine safety. However, if your child has a specific health condition where a vaccine may be harmful, have your child’s doctor fill out this  medical exemption form.

  • The form must be filled out by a New York State-licensed medical doctor (MD) or osteopathic doctor (DO). A form completed by a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) will not be accepted.
  • Bring the completed form to your school.
    • The form will be reviewed, and we will let you know if the request has been approved.
    • Your child will be allowed to attend school during the approval process.
  • Requests must be reapproved each year.

No Religious Exemptions

As of June 13, 2019, NY State no longer allows religious exemptions from mandated vaccinations.