Changes in immunization requirements for students

Effective January 1, 2005 New York State require that students be immunized against Varicella (chickenpox), Pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus as requirements for school entry and attendance. Following are the specific requirements:

6th grade to be immunized against varicella

Specifically, the varicella amendment requires the following:

• Students born on or after January 1,1994, and who enroll in the 6th grade at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year must be immunized against varicella;

• Those students born on or after January 1,1994, and who transfer to a school in this state from another state or country after this law becomes effective on January 1. 2005. must be immunized at the time of entry into the school in the State of New York;

• Special Education students in gradeless classes who were born on or after January 1, 1994. must be immunized against varicella at the start of the 2005 -2006 school year;

• Students born on or after January 1,1994, who are repeating the 6th grade at the beginning of the 2005 - 2006 school year are required to be immunized against varicella.

Exemptions from this requirement include the following:

• A history of varicella disease as documented by a health care provider. Parental recall of the disease history is not sufficient, and will not be accepted as proof of immunity;

• A medical exemption consisting of a written statement from a physician licensed to practice in the State of New York stating that there is a valid medical contraindication to varicella vaccine. A copy of the exemption must be retained by the school;

• A statement of religious exemption written by the parent, parents, or guardian of the child stating that they hold sincere and genuine religious belief(s) which prohibit the immunization of the child. A copy of the exemption must be retained by the school. Secular principles, including philosophical exemptions are not allowed;

• Serologic proof of immunity to varicella. The serologic test is reliable for determining the immune status in a healthy person after they had a natural infection, but may not be reliable in immuno-compromised persons.

Pertusis and Tetanus required for all students

All children born on or after January 1, 2005, be immunized against tetanus and pertusis as a requirement for entry and attendance to any school defined by this law. A "school" means, and includes, any public, private, or parochial child caring center, day nursery, day care agency, nursery school, kindergarten, elementary, intermediate or secondary school.

The only exceptions to immunization against pertussis and/or tetanus are the aforementioned medical or religious exemptions.

The following chart provides a quick and comprehensive overview of the immunizations necessary for school entry and attendance in licensed day care centers, group gamily day cares, Head Starts, nursery schools, BOCES and public and non-public elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools in New York State.

New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance¹

¹ Demonstrated serologic evidence of either measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B or varicella antibodies is acceptable proof of immunity to these diseases.
Diagnosis by a physician that a child/student has had measles, mumps or varicella diseases is acceptable proof of immunity to those diseases.

² Children in a Pre-Kindergarten setting should be age appropriately immunized. The number of doses depends on the schedule recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

³ Please note at this time that New York State requires 3 doses of diphtheria (New York City requires 4 doses for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten only) and three doses of polio vaccine for entry into kindergarten and for any student entering a school in New York State for the first time. However, ACIP recommends 4 doses of diphtheria by age 18 months and 5 doses by age 4-6 years of age. Children 4-6 years of age should receive 4 doses if polio vaccine unless the 3rd dose is given after 4 years of age.

⁴ DTaP is the currently recommended vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

⁵ The New York State Department of Health Immunization Program concurs with the ACIP which recommends that vaccine doses administered up to 4 days before the minimum interval or age fro measles, mumps, rubella and varicella be counted as valid.

⁶ Hepatitis B - For students in grades 7-12,3 doses of Recombivax HB or Engerix-B is required, except for those students who receive 2 doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) which is recommended for children 11-15.

⁷ Students enrolling in the 6th grade includes students who are entering, repeating or transferring into the 6th grade and students who are enrolling in gradeless classes and are the age equivalent of 6th grade. Two (2) doses of varicella vaccine is recommended for students who receive the first dose on or after their 13th birthday.

For further information contact:
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control - Immunization Program, ESP, Corning Tower, Rm 649, Albany, NY 12237 (518) 473-4437.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Immunization, Program Support Unit, 2 Layfayette St., Box 21,18th Floor/Mailroom, New York, NY 10007 (212) 676-2301.