Immunization Requirements

2011-2012 Guide to Immunizations Required for School Entry

To enter or transfer into public or private schools, all children in preschool and grades K-12 must meet immunization requirements outlined below at registration and before attendance. No child shall attend school without proof of immunization status.

1. Preschool children need only be age-appropriately immunized with the required vaccines.
2. DTaP: The 5^th dose is not necessary if the 4^th dose was administered at age 4 years or older.
3. Polio: The 4^th dose is not necessary if the 3^rd dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after previous dose.
4. Varicella: History of chickenpox disease documented by a physician or licensed health care professional meets the requirement.

Exemptions

Idaho law allows a parent/guardian to claim an exemption from immunization requirements for their child for medical, religious, or personal reasons. All exemptions must be documented on the official State of Idaho form provided by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Immunization Program. A medical exemption requires the signature of a licensed physician and certification that the child has a medical condition which prevents him or her from receiving required vaccinations. The law does not allow parents/guardians to claim an exemption because the shot record is lost or incomplete, or because it is too much trouble to contact the physician or clinic and obtain a copy. Schools should maintain an up-to-date list of pupils with exemptions so they can be excluded quickly if an outbreak occurs.

Conditional Admission

The Schedule of Intended Immunizations Form is required by IDAPA 16.02.15 to document the intended immunization schedule of a child who has not received all required immunizations for school admission. To be eligible for conditional admission, a child must have received at least one dose of each required vaccine and currently be on schedule for subsequent immunizations following the intervals listed below. Failure to receive still-needed doses of required vaccines as indicated on the Schedule of Intended Immunizations Form will result in exclusion of the child from school until the child is back on schedule with no required vaccine doses due.

1. DTaP: The 5^th dose is not necessary if the 4^th dose was administered at age 4 years or older.
2. Polio: The 4^th dose is not necessary if the 3^rd dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after previous dose.
3. Hep B: Minimum age for the 3^rd dose is 24 weeks and at least 16 weeks after first dose.

Documentation

All children must present a valid immunization record to school officials, unless exempted.

What is it? A valid immunization record is an electronic medical health record, an immunization registry document, or a written immunization certificate confirmed (signed, stamped, or provided on official letterhead) by a licensed health care professional which states the month, day, and year of each immunization a child has received. A record with check marks instead of dates or saying only “up-to-date,” “all requirements met,” or “series complete” is inadequate and may not be accepted. The record must show that all required vaccine doses have been received and minimum ages and intervals have been met. Laboratory proof of immunity to a disease for which a vaccine is required is valid and meets the requirement for that disease. For varicella, a statement by a licensed health care professional indicating the child has had chickenpox disease meets the requirement.

Who must present it? The parent/guardian of a child in preschool and grades K-12 must present proof of immunization status to the school official. Effective with the 2011-2012 school year, students entering 7th grade must present a record documenting that 7th grade immunization requirements have been met. This requirement will be extended to: 7th-8th grade students in 2012, 7th-9th grade students in 2013, 7th-10th grade students in 2014, 7th-11th grade students in 2015, and 7th-12th grade students in 2016.

When must it be presented? The parent/guardian must present the proof of immunization status at the time of registration and before attendance for a child entering or transferring into preschool and grades K-12. Students entering 7th grade must present proof of meeting immunization requirements before entry into the 7th grade.

What do schools do with it? School staff must carefully review the record to ensure that all requirements have been met and must retain a hardcopy of the record on file at the school.

Resources

• 2011-2012 School Immunization Requirements Flyer
• 2011-2012 Guide to School Immunization Requirements
• Conditional Admission Form - Schedule of Intended Immunizations
• Exemption Form - School