DON’T WAIT. VACCINATE NOW.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has made changes to school immunization requirements. These new requirements became effective in August 2017. These changes are to help make sure that children attending school are protected against diseases that can be prevented when a child is completely immunized.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

For children in ALL grades: 4 doses of acellular pertussis (whooping cough) are now required. This is typically administered in combination with diphtheria and tetanus by the time a child is 5 years old.

For students entering GRADE 12:  TWO  Meningococcal vaccines (MCV) are now required. The first MCV vaccine is  a state requirement for entry into 7th grade.

School Attendance/Exclusion: A parent must provide written proof to the school nurse that the required immunizations were given or a written plan signed by a doctor indicating when the required immunizations will be given before the first day of school or within the first 5 days of the school year or the child may be excluded from school.

For a complete list of required immunizations and regulations go to: dontwaitvaccinate.pa.gov