Immunizations

Please read the School Vaccination Requirements for Pennsylvania Schools.

Children in ALL grades (K-12) need the following vaccines:

• 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis * (1 dose on or after 4th birthday)
• 4 doses of polio
• 2 doses of measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) **
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B (Hep B)
• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or confirmed case and date of Chicken Pox

*Usually given as TDP or tDAP

**Usually given as MMR

7th Grade ADDITIONAL immunization requirements for entry:

• 1 dose meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) [if five years have elapsed since last tetanus immunization]

12th Grade ADDITIONAL immunization requirements for entry:

• 1 dose meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)*

If one dose of MCV was given at 16 years old or after, that will count as meeting this requirement.

The only exemptions to the school laws for immunizations are:

• medical reasons;
• religious beliefs; or
• philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction.

Even if your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be excluded from school during an outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease.

VACCINE SAFETY

• Vaccines are held to the highest standard of safety.
• The United States has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history.
• Vaccines are continually monitored for safety and effectiveness.