Immunizations

Kindergarten Immunization Requirements for School Year 2024-2025
Your child’s health is important to us.  It is well known that healthy children are in a better position to take advantage of the educational opportunities presented to them than children who are physically or emotionally struggling.  

Immunizations are used to protect your children against certain diseases as well as other children in the school. In accordance with state law, you are required to furnish—no later than the first day of school after your child’s enrollment— proof of your child’s immunization status, either as a written document from the health care provider who administered the immunizations or documentation provided from the state immunization data registry. Please furnish the immunization paperwork BEFORE the first day of school on AUGUST 14, 2024. By doing so, this will prevent any interruption to your child’s attendance at the start of the school year.

**Immunizations may be obtained from your family doctor, St. Joseph County Health Department, or other area clinics. Please call the school health office for resources.  

Minimum Immunization Requirements:

• 5 doses of DtaP/DTP/DT (4 doses are acceptable if the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday)
• 4 doses of Polio (3 doses are acceptable if the third dose was on or after the 4th birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose and only one type of vaccine was used. For students in grades K-12, the final dose must be administered on or after the 4th birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose.)
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B (the minimum age for the third dose of Hepatitis B is 24 weeks of age
• 2 doses of MMR
• 2 doses of Varicella (chickenpox)-(physician documentation of disease history, including month and year, is proof of immunity for children entering preschool through 12th grade. Parent report of disease history is not acceptable.)
• 2 doses of Hepatitis A (the minimum interval between first and second dose is six calendar months. Two doses are required for all grade levels.)

Immunization Recommendations:

• Annual influenza
• COVID-19

Questions about immunizations can be directed to the school health office.

These state mandated immunization requirements for all incoming 6th graders must be met before your child can attend 6th grade in the fall:

• 3 Hepatitis B
• 2 Hepatitis A (the minimum interval between first and second dose is six calendar months, two doses are required for all grade levels)
• 2 Varicella
• 5 DTaP
• 1 Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis)
• 4 Polio 
• 1 MCV4 (Meningococcal)
• 2 MMR

Immunization Recommendations:

• Annual influenza
• 2 or 3 HPV (Human papillomavirus)
• COVID-19

Additional Suggestions and Information:

• We suggest you make appointments now to get the needed immunizations while your child is still in 5th grade. The local health departments and area physicians are extremely busy in the summer and at the beginning of the school year. 
• When you submit documentation on time, you prevent interruption to the start of your child’s school year.
• Please turn in the immunization paperwork before the first day of school.

Thank you for working with us to keep your children healthy!  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your health office.