Information on SCHOOL VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NYS

What vaccines are required in order for a child to attend school this year?

• Please click HERE to view immunization requirements for the current school year.  

I told the nurse where my child had vaccines – isn’t that sufficient?

• Telling the nurse the date and place of shots does not help. New York State requires actual proof (signed documents) that your child has started receiving the mandatory immunizations.
• A record of your child’s immunizations from your health care provider, health department, or official copy of the immunization record from the child's previous school (a copy of the original immunization record from the healthcare provider – not a copy of the school health record) is acceptable.  A NYSIIS record is also acceptable. The exact date each immunization was given must be included in the record.

What if my child has not completed the immunization schedule that is required in order to attend school?

New York State Public Health Law, Section 2164 requires that schools will not permit a child to attend school unless the parent provides the school with a certificate of immunization or proof from a physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant that the child is in the process of receiving the required immunizations.  A student is considered in process when the following guidelines are being met:

• Within 14 days of the first day of school – children must receive the first age-appropriate dose in each immunization series to attend or remain in school or day care.
•  Within 30 days after the first day of school or day care – parents or guardians of such children must show that they have appointments for all required follow-up doses. The deadlines for follow-up doses depend on the vaccine and must follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) catch-up schedule. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• The New York State Department of Health expects children who are delayed in receiving /starting immunizations to receive all required doses.

How will I know if my child has completed all required immunization series for school attendance?

Your primary provider and your school nurse will advise you if your child’s vaccine are not up to date

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New Law on School Vaccination Requirements Removing Nonmedical Exemption

On June 13, 2019, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation removing nonmedical exemptions from school vaccination requirements for children to help protect the public from the worst measles outbreak in more than 25 years.

What does the law do?

The new law no longer allows a religious exemption to the requirement that children be vaccinated against measles and other diseases to attend either public, private, or parochial school (for students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade) or day care.

• Information is available on the NYS Department of Health website at: see here

• Frequently Asked Questions About Legislation Removing Non-Medical Exemptions from School Vaccination Requirements: FAQs