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School & Child-Care Facility Requirements

Parent Letter - 2010-2011 Immunization Requirements for K-12
English version | Spanish version 4 page PDF, posted 3/26/10

2010-11 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students Rev 2/9/10, 4 pages, bilingual

News and Releases

2010

• Licensure of Prevnar 13 will not affect child-care facility requirements - posted 2/28/10
• New bacterial meningitis vaccine requirement for college students living in on-campus housing. - posted 2/4/10
  Rule written by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• Updated interval recommendation for polio vaccine will not affect school requirements - posted 2/4/10
  

2009

• 2009 Flu Mail-out to Child-Care Facilities - posted 9/17/09
• Changes in Texas Immunization Requirements - posted 3/9/09

Archives

• School & Child-care News Releases & Statements

Immunization Requirements

The following charts summarize the vaccine requirements incorporated in Title 25 Health Services, §§97.61-97.72 of the Texas Administrative Code. They are not intended as substitutes for consulting the Texas Administrative Code, which has other provisions and details. The Texas Department of State Health Services is granted the authority to set immunization requirements by Texas Education Code, Chapter 38 and Human Resource Code, Chapter 42.

Provisional Enrollment Flowchart (Non-Higher Education; Non-Veterinary Students) Stock # 11-13255 - rev 03/2010

Provisional enrollment and general immunization requirements FAQs Stock # E11-13160, Rev. 4/17/09

Requirements for Schools

• Parent Letter - 2010-2011 Immunization Requirements for K-12
  English version | Spanish version 4 page PDF, posted 3/26/10
• 2010-11 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students Rev 2/9/10, 4 pages, bilingual
  
  
• 2009-10 Immunization Requirements Phase-In Schedule Rev. 03.09
• New immunization requirements FAQs Stock # E11-13133, Rev. 3/10
• School Requirements
  • 2009-10 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students
    (Bilingual, 4 pages) - effective 8/1/09
    -- or just print the English or Spanish version:
    
  • English (2 pages) - effective 8/1/09
  • Spanish (2 pages)- effective 8/1/09
    
    
• Recommended Immunization Schedule, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2010
  • English pdf (4 pages, 290 Kb)

Requirements for Child-Care Facilities

• Child-Care Requirements
  • 2010-2011 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Child-Care Facilities (pdf)
    6 Pages, stock # 6-15 (Rev 04/30/10)
    
• Recommended Immunization Schedule, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2010
  • For Persons Aged 0-6 years (pdf)
  • For Persons Aged 7-18 years (pdf)
    • Catch-up Schedule Ages 4 months-18 years (pdf)
• Flu Fact Sheet for Child-Care Settings Bilingual (4 pages, 26 Kb)
• 2009 Flu Mail-out to Child-Care Facilities - added on 9/17/09
  • Cover letter (1 page PDF)
  • Flu fact sheet (4 page PDF) Stock # 11-12812
  • Emily Lastinger brochure (2 page PDF) Stock # 11-12811
    
  • New information regarding newborn screening storage and use (1 page PDF) bilingual
  • Go to our Order Form to request items with stock numbers.
• Flu information

Vaccination Coverage Levels

• Immunization Coverage for Schools
• Immunization Coverage for Child-Care Facilities

Exclusions from Immunization Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions:

"Exemption from Immunization for Reasons of Conscience" Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Stock # E11-13159, Rev. 04/09

• PDF Format (14 Kb)

Sample letter for requesting an exemption form:

Sample Request for Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience, Stock # EF11-13140, Rev. 03/09.

• PDF Format (26 Kb)
• MS Word Format (62 Kb)
  
  
• Online exemption form request
  (secure web page for requesting exemption forms online )

Exemptions to Immunization Requirements:

Chapter §97.62 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) describes the conditions under which individuals can seek exemptions from Texas immunization requirements. Exclusions from compliance are allowable on an individual basis for medical contraindications, reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, and active duty with the armed forces of the United States.

Guidelines for Requesting an Exemption for Reasons of Conscience

• Written requests must be submitted through the U.S. Postal Service, commercial carrier, fax, or by hand-delivery.
  
  Mailing Address:
  Immunization Branch
  Department of State Health Services
  Immunization Branch (MC 1946)
  P.O. Box 149347
  Austin, TX 78714-9347
  
  Hand Delivery:
  Department of State Health Services 
  Immunization Branch (MC 1946)
  1100 West 49th Street
  Austin, TX  78756

  Fax:
  512.458.7544

• Hand-delivered requests may be submitted to the DSHS, Immunization Branch, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. ALL affidavit forms will be mailed to you via U.S. Postal Service. Important note: no requests will be filled at the time of hand-delivery.
• Affidavit form requests will be processed and mailed within seven to ten (7-10) business days from the receipt of the request. If additional information is needed in order to process the affidavit, you will be notified.
• The letter must include the following information:
  • Full name of each child for whom a form is requested (first, middle, and last);
  • Date of birth of each child for whom a form is requested;
  • Parent or legal guardian's signature and complete return mailing address, including zip code; and
  • Number of forms needed for each child (not to exceed five forms per child)
• Electronic mail or telephone requests cannot be processed.
• The official Texas Department of State Health Services affidavit form must be notarized and submitted to school officials. The form must be submitted within 90 days from the date it is notarized.
• The school will accept only official affidavit forms developed and issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Immunization Branch. No other forms or reproductions will be allowed.

Related Websites & Resources

School Health Program
The School Health Program will provide leadership and support to communities in their efforts to meet the health services and health education needs of their children in a school setting.

Texas Education Agency
Providing leadership, guidance and resources to help schools meet the educational needs of all students in Texas.

CDC Vaccines & Immunizations
Information about Vaccine-preventable diseases from the CDC.

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Last Updated August 13, 2010