Immunization FAQs

• Can a student be admitted pending the receipt of immunization records? If the student is transferring within Texas or is a dependent of a person on active duty with the armed forces, a 30-day provisional enrollment is allowed. If the student is enrolling from out of state or is entering school for the first time in Texas, current records must be presented before enrolling.
• If a student goes to the clinic today and receives only the first of the series of immunizations, can that student be admitted to school? Yes, because he/she has received all that is medically feasible at this time. However, the student must receive the necessary immunization as rapidly as is medically feasible to remain in school.
• What immunization records are acceptable as proof of immunizations? Those records that are signed by a physician or his or her designee or a public health official, or that are from a school.
• Can students whose immunizations become delinquent during the school year be excluded from school? Yes. As specified by law, students whose immunizations are delinquent do not meet requirements for school attendance and shall be excluded until they are in compliance.
• How long are medical exemptions valid? For one calendar year, unless the physician specified a lifelong condition.
• Are there exclusions from immunization compliance? Yes. Exclusions from compliance are allowable on an individual basis for medical contraindications and for reasons of conscience, including religious belief. Students falling into these categories must submit signed affidavits as specified in the law.
• Can a student with a positive tuberculosis skin test be admitted to school? Yes. A student may be admitted, provided that he/she has a pending appointment for a chest x-ray or a school clearance form.
• What are the new vaccine requirements and why are they being added? Five new vaccine requirements have been added and the vaccines affected are: hepatitis A; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); varicella; tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap); and meningococcal. The changes to the requirements were made in order to update the Texas elementary and secondary school immunization requirements so they adhere more closely to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations.
• When will the new changes for school requirements be effective? The new school requirements will be effective August 1, 2009.
  What is the varicella (chicken pox) requirement? Children in ALL grades, prekindergarten through grade 12*, are required to have one dose of varicella vaccine on or after the first birthday or a reliable history of having had the disease, however kindergarten and seventh-grade students are now required to show proof of two doses of the varicella vaccine. Reliable history of prior varicella illness consists of either (1) a written statement from a physician or the student's parent or guardian containing wording such as "This is to certify that (name of student) had varicella disease (chicken pox) on or about (date) and does not need varicella vaccine," or (2) serologic confirmation of immunity.

*Note: If the first dose is received on or after 13 years of age, two doses are required.

• What if a student had a previous illness of the varicella disease (chickenpox), will they still need the vaccine? No. If a student has had chickenpox, they will not need to receive the vaccination. A written statement from a parent (or legal guardian or managing conservator), school nurse, or physician attesting to a child's positive history of varicella disease (chickenpox), or of varicella immunity, is acceptable in lieu of either dose of varicella vaccine.
• What is the hepatitis B requirement? Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine are required for all students, grades prekindergarten through 12.
• Will there still be a hepatitis A requirement for kindergarten through 3rd grade in counties designated as high risk? No. The hepatitis A requirement will apply statewide to students entering kindergarten. There will no longer be a special requirement for counties designated as high risk.
• Does a five-year-old student need the haemophilus influenza type B vaccine if enrolling for the first time? No. Haemophilus influenza type B (HIB) vaccine is required for children 15 months through four years of age unless a student met a schedule for a primary series and a booster at 12 months of age or a physician-validated history of invasive HIB on or after the second birthday.
• Do all students need two measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines? No. This rule applies only to kindergarten students. The first dose of MMR must have been received on or after the first birthday. The second dose may be administered at least 28 days Iater. For purposes of school attendance, the second dose of measles vaccine is required upon kindergarten enrollment.
• What if a child already has two doses of measles-containing vaccine and only one dose of rubella, will they still need to get a second dose of MMR or will they need to start over and get two doses of MMR? No. Students in grades 1 through 12 will remain compliant under the present MMR requirement. Only those students entering kindergarten to start the 2009–2010 school year will need to have two doses of MMR.
• What if a student is entering seventh grade and it has been less than five years since the last tetanus-containing vaccine? Will they still need the Tdap vaccination? Students in the seventh grade will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Students in grades 8 through12 will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap vaccine if it has been 10 years since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exists.
• Are doses given before the required age acceptable? Yes. Doses administered up to four days before the required age or minimum interval between doses are considered valid doses.