New York State Immunization Requirements
New York State Immunization Requirements for
School Entrance/Attendance1
|
Vaccines |
Pre-Kindergarten (Day Care, Nursery, Head Start, or Pre-K)2 |
School (K-12) |
|
Diphtheria Toxoid-Containing Vaccine |
3 doses (New York City Schools – 4 doses)3 |
3 doses (New York City Schools – 4 doses required for Kindergarten only) |
|
Tetanus Toxoid-Containing Vaccine and Pertussis Vaccine (DTaP, DTP)4 |
3 doses if born on or after 1/1/2005 |
Not applicable until student born on or after 1/1/2005 enrolls in school |
|
Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Booster (Tdap) |
Not applicable |
Born on or after 1/1/94 and enrolling in 6th grade5 1 dose |
|
Polio (IPV or OPV) |
3 doses |
3 doses |
|
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)6 |
1 dose |
2 doses of measles-containing vaccine and 1 ease of mumps and rubella (preferably as MMR) |
|
Hepatitis B |
3 doses |
3 doses7 |
|
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) |
3 doses if less than 15 months of age or 1 dose administered on or after 15 months of age8 |
Not applicable |
|
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) |
Born on or after 1/1/08 – 4 doses by 15 months of age, given at age appropriate times and intervals9 |
Not applicable |
|
Varicella (Chickenpox)6 |
Born on or after 1/1/200 1 dose |
Born on or after 1/1/98 or born on or after 1/1/94 and enrolling in 6th grade10 – 1 dose |
1 Demonstrated serologic evidence of either measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, or varicella antibodies is acceptable proof of immunity to these diseases. Diagnosis by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner that a child/student has had measles, mumps, or varicella diseases is acceptable proof of immunity to those diseases.
2 Children in a Pre-Kindergarten setting should be age appropriately immunized. The number of doses depends on the schedule recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
3 Please note at this time that New York State requires 3 doses of diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine (New York City requires 4 doses for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten only) and three doses of polio vaccine for entry into kindergarten and for any student entering a school in New York State for the first time. However, ACIP recommends 4 doses of diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine by age 18 months and 5 doses by age 4-6 years of age. Children 4-6 years of age should receive 4 doses of polio vaccine unless the 3rd dose is given after 4 years of age.
4 DTaP is the currently recommended vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
5 Students enrolling in the 6th grade includes students who are entering, repeating or transferring into the 6th grade and students who are enrolling in gradeless classes and are the age equivalent of 6th grade. Ten-year-olds entering 6th grade do not need to have a Tdap vaccine. They will need to receive a Tdap once they turn 11. Students who receive a Td vaccine within 2 years prior to entering 6th grade should not receive (with rare exceptions) the booster dose of Tdap until 2 years has elapsed. It is required that those students who are not eligible on this basis be flagged, tracked, and immunized at the appropriate time.
6 The New York State Department of Health Immunization Program concurs with the ACIP which recommends that vaccine doses administered up to 4 days before the minimum interval or age for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella be counted as valid.
7 Hepatitis B – For students in grades 7-12, 3 doses of Recombivax HB or Engerix-B is required, except for those students who received 2 doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) which is recommended for children 11-15 years old.
8 Four doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is recommended by 15 months or more of age, however only 3 doses are required for day care entry. If a child enters a day care on or after 15 months of age, and has not received 3 doses of Hib vaccine, only one dose on or after 15 months of age is required.
9 Unvaccinated children 7-11 months of age should receive 2 doses, at least 4 weeks apart, followed by a 3rd dose at age 12-15 months. Unvaccinated children 12-23 months of age should receive 2 doses of vaccine at least 8 weeks apart. Previously unvaccinated children 24-59 months of age should receive only 1 dose.
10 Students enrolling in the 6th grade includes students who are entering, repeating, or transferring into the 6th grade and students who are enrolling in gradeless classes and are the age equivalent of 6th grade. Two (2) doses of varicella vaccine are recommended for all students, but not required for school entry.
For further information contact:
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control – Immunization Program, ESP, Corning Tower, Rm 649, Albany, NY 12237 (518)473-4437.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Immunization, Program Support Unit, 2 Layfayette St, Box 21, 18th Floor/Mailroom, New York, NY 10007 (212)676-2301.