6 14 Minimum Requirements K 12 2009 2010 (08 01 09)
2009 - 2010 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students
Grades K - 12
This chart summarizes the vaccine requirements incorporated in Title 25 Health Services,
§§97.61-97.72 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).
This chart is not intended as a substitute for consulting the TAC, which has other provisions and
details. The Department of State Health Services is granted authority to set immunization requirements by the
Education Code, Chapter 38, Health & Safety, Subchapter A, General Provisions.
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
A student shall show acceptable evidence of vaccination prior to entry, attendance, or transfer to a child-care facility or public or private
elementary or secondary school in Texas.
Vaccines
Kindergarten
7th Grade
8th - 12th Grade
3 doses3
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis1
3 doses3
5 doses or 4 doses2
(DTaP/DTP/DT/Td/Tdap)
1 Tdap/Td booster4
1 Tdap/Td booster
within last 10 years5
Polio1, 6
4 doses or 3 doses
4 doses or 3 doses
4 doses or 3 doses
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella1, 7, 11
2 doses
2 doses7
2 doses7
(MMR)
Hepatitis B1, 8, 11
3 doses
3 doses
3 doses
Varicella1, 9, 11, 12
2 doses
2 doses
1 dose9
Meningococcal1
1 dose
Hepatitis A1, 10, 11
2 doses
Footnotes
1 Receipt of the dose up to (and including) 4 days before the birthday will satisfy the school entry immunization requirement.
2 Five doses of a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis containing vaccine, one of which must have been received on or after the 4th birthday;
however, 4 doses meet the requirement if the 4th dose was given on or after the 4th birthday.
3 Three doses, including one dose on or after the 4th birthday.
4 Students will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine.
Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exists.
5 Students wil be required to have a booster dose of Tdap if it has been ten years since their previous dose of tetanus-containing vaccine.
Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exists.
6 Four doses of polio vaccine one of which must have been received on or after the 4th birthday; however, 3 doses meet the requirement if
the 3rd dose was given on or after the 4th birthday.
7 Two doses of MMR vaccine with the 1st dose on or after the 1st birthday. For the 2009 - 2010 school year, 7th - 12th grade students are
required to have two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, and one dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine. Refer to the phase-in
schedule to determine when the 2-dose MMR requirement goes into effect for 7th - 12th grade.
8 Two doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax®) are acceptable for individuals 11 - 15 years of age. Dosage and type of vaccine
must be clearly documented. (Two 10 mcg/1.0 ml of Recombivax®)
9 Two doses received on or after the 1st birthday. Refer to the phase-in schedule to determine when the 2-dose Varicella requirement goes
into effect for 8th- 12th grade.
10 Two doses with the 1st dose received on or after the 1st birthday.
11 Serologic confirmation of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, or varicella or serologic evidence of infection is
acceptable in lieu of vaccine.
12 Previous illness may be documented with a written statement from a physician, school nurse, or the child’s parent or guardian containing
wording such as: “This is to verify that (name of student) had varicella disease (chickenpox) on or about (date) and does not need
varicella vaccine.”
Exemptions
The law allows (a) physicians to write a statement stating that the vaccine(s) required is medically contraindicated or poses a significant
risk to the health and well-being of the child or any member of the child’s household, and (b) parents/guardians to choose an exemption
from immunization requirements for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Schools and child-care facilities should
maintain an up-to-date list of students with exemptions, so they can be excluded from attending school if an outbreak occurs.
Instructions for the affidavit to be signed by parents/guardians choosing the exemption for reasons of conscience, including a
religious belief can be found at www.ImmunizeTexas.com.
For children needing medical exemptions, a written statement by the physician should be submitted to the school or child-care
facility.
Provisional Enrollment
All immunizations should be completed by the first date of attendance. The law requires that students be fully vaccinated against the
specified diseases. A student may be enrolled provisionally if the student has an immunization record that indicates the student has
received at least one dose of each specified age-appropriate vaccine required by this rule. To remain enrolled, the student must
complete the required subsequent doses in each vaccine series on schedule and as rapidly as is medically feasible and provide acceptable
evidence of vaccination to the school. A school nurse or school administrator shall review the immunization status of a provisionally
enrolled student every 30 days to ensure continued compliance in completing the required doses of vaccination. If, at the end of the 30-
day period, a student has not received a subsequent dose of vaccine, the student is not in compliance and the school shall exclude the
student from school attendance until the required dose is administered.
Documentation
Since many types of personal immunization records are in use, any document will be acceptable provided a physician or public health
personnel have validated it. The month, day, and year that the vaccination was received must be recorded on all school immunization
records created or updated after September 1, 1991.
Texas Department of State Health Services • Immunization Branch • MC-1946 • P O Box 149347 • Austin, TX 78714-9347 • (800) 252-9152
Stock# 6-14
Rev. 08/01/09
