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New vaccination requirements for PA schools

Aug 14, 2017 • by The Office of Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone
Child Vaccinations

The start of school is just around the corner, and I know how important it is to understand what vaccinations your child needs before going back to class to protect themselves and other students. Please note: some of the requirements have changed for Pennsylvania schools, both private and public.

The most notable new requirement: students will have five days, not up to eight months, to prove they have the state-required vaccinations. Those who still lack vaccinations after day five may be required to stay home. However, students who don’t have all the needed vaccinations within the first five days can continue attending if they have a written plan from a doctor outlining the child will get the needed vaccinations.

Students starting in any grade need these vaccinations:

4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (usually given as DTP or DTaP)4 doses of polio3 doses of hepatitis B2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella (usually given as MMR)2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity

Students entering 7th grade need these vaccinations:

1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap)1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)

Students entering 12th grade need one dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccination (meningitis vaccine).

Pennsylvania still allows exemptions for families who don’t want their child vaccinated because of medical, religious, or philosophical reasons.

You can click here for more information about school vaccinations.

If you have a question about this or another state-related issue, please contact my office

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