PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Updated May 2017

Children in all grades K-12 need the following immunizations upon enrollment, PRIOR to the student's first day of attendance:

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

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

  • 2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella***

  • 3 doses of hepatitis B

  • 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity

   *  Usually given as DTP or DTaP or if medically advisable, DT or Td
 **  A fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 years
      or  older and at least 6 months after the previous dose
*** Usually given as MMR

7th Grade Additional Requirements needed PRIOR to the first day of school:

  • 1 dose meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)

  • 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap)

12th Grade Requirements needed PRIOR to the first day of school:

  • 1 dose meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) that has been given after the age of 16 years.

The only exemptions to the school laws for immunizations are:

  • Medical reasons

  • Religious beliefs

  • Philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction

If your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be removed from school during an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease.

Pennsylvania school immunization requirements can be found on the PA Department of Health website under the 28PA Code Ch. 23 school immunizations or at www.cdc.gov/vaccines or by contacting Erie County Department of Health at 814-451-6700.