Schools remind parents of new immunization rule for California

El Dorado County Public Health and school officials are reminding parents of a new California school immunization law, SB 277 that went into effect January 1, 2016. The law eliminates exemptions based on personal beliefs, including religious beliefs, for the vaccines that are currently required for entry into child care or school, kindergarten through grade 12.

Most families will not be affected by the new law because their children have received all required vaccinations. Personal belief exemptions on file for a child already attending a California child care or school will remain valid until the child reaches the next immunization checkpoint at kindergarten (including transitional kindergarten) or 7th grade.

Children entering child care must have:

Age When Enrolling: Immunizations Required:
2-3 months 1 DTaP, 1 Polio, 1 Hep B, 1 Hib
4-5 months 2 DTaP, 2 Polio, 2 Hep B, 2 Hib
6-14 months 3 DTaP, 2 Polio, 2 Hep B, 2 Hib
15-17 months 3 DTaP, 3 Polio, 2 Hep B, 1 MMR*, 1 Hib*
18 months-4 years 4 DTaP, 3 Polio, 3 Hep B, 1 MMR*, 1 Hib*, 1 Varicella
* on or after the 1st birthday

Children entering kindergarten must have:
5 DTaP (4 doses meet requirement if at least one was given on or after the 4th birthday)
4 Polio (3 doses meet requirement if at least one was given on or after the 4th birthday)
3 Hep B
2 MMR (1st dose on or after 1st birthday)
1 Varicella

Children entering 7th grade must have:
3 DTaP (1 more Td/Tdap required if the last dose was given before the 2nd birthday)
1 Tdap (on or after the 7th birthday)
4 Polio (3 doses meet requirement if at least one was given on or after the 2nd birthday)
2 MMR (1st dose on or after 1st birthday)
1 Varicella

Students will no longer be required to have immunizations for school entry if they attend a home-based private school or an independent study program with no classroom-based instruction.

For students to enter or transition into Preschool, TK/Kindergarten or 7th grade; or students in any grade enrolling in a California school from out of state or out of country, at least one of the following conditions must be met before the student is allowed to attend class:

- Submit documentation of receiving required immunizations to the school.
- Parents/guardians of medically exempt students must submit a Medical
- Exemption letter from a licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.) and provide documentation of immunizations which have been received.

For more information about SB 277 and immunization requirements please go to El Dorado County Public Health’s Live.Love.Vaccinate webpage: http://www.edcgov.us/PublicHealth/Immunizations/LiveLoveVaccinateInfo.aspx or contact the El Dorado County Immunization Assistance Program at 530-621-6100.