Immunizations

PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Please see the above link for entrance criteria and beginning of the year exclusion notification for Kindergarten, 7th, and 12th grade students.

Students in ALL grades (K-12) need the following immunizations for attendance:

• 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis* (1 dose on or after 4th birthday)

• 4 doses of polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given)

• 2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella**

• 3 doses of hepatitis B

• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity
  
  *Usually given as DTP or DTaP or DT or Td
  **Usually given as MMR

Students Entering 7th Grade:

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) at 11 years of age

• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) at 11 years of age

Students Entering 12th Grade:

• 2nd dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on or after 16 years of age

Please do not hesitate in getting your child the needed immunizations. Some students have already received the required immunizations but documentation was not received. Documentation should be forwarded to the school nurse as soon as possible for accurate recording. If you are uncertain of your child's immunization status, please contact the school nurse for verification.

If your child does not have health insurance or if your insurance does not cover immunizations, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

For more information, please call 1-877-PA-HEALTH or visit the PA Dept of Health website at: www.health.state.pa.us

Acceptable exemptions to the school laws for immunizations are:

• Medical reasons;

• Religious beliefs; and

• Philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction

Documentation of any exemption must be submitted to the school and kept on file in the student's health record. If your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be removed from school during an outbreak.