School Vaccination Requirements

Pennsylvania School Health Law (28 Pa.CODE CH.23) requires that all children have the required medically appropriate vaccines or a plan to obtain those vaccines or he/she will risk exclusion from school.

For attendance in ALL GRADES (K-12), children need the following:

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 was 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 DTaP or DTP or, if medically available, DT or Td

**A fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 or older or at least six months after the previous dose.

***Usually given as MMR

ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL — Unless the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s) has submitted a written request for a medical, religious or philosophical exemption, the child must have had at least one dose of the above vaccinations or risk exclusion.

If a child does not have all of the doses listed above, needs additional doses, and the next dose is medically appropriate, the child must receive that dose within the first five (5) days of school or risk exclusion. If the next dose is not the final dose of the series, the child must also provide a medical plan (red and white card) within the first five (5) days of school for obtaining the required immunizations or risk exclusion.
If a child does not have all doses listed above, needs additional doses, and the next dose is not medically appropriate, the child must also provide a medical plan (red and white card) within the first five (5) days of school for obtaining the required immunizations or risk exclusion.
The medical plan must be followed or a child will risk exclusion.

For attendance in GRADE 7, children need the following:

1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) on the first day of seventh grade
1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of seventh grade

For attendance in GRADE 12, children need the following:

1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of 12th grade. If one (1) dose was given at age 16 or older, that shall count as the 12th-grade dose.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF 7TH AND 12TH GRADE — Unless the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s) has submitted a written request for a medical, religious or philosophical exemption, the child must have had the above vaccinations or risk exclusion.

The vaccines required for entrance to Grades 7 & 12 continue to be required in each succeeding school year.