Immunization

School Immunizations

As your child returns to school, it’s important to make sure they are up to date on all their required vaccinations for the 2024-2025 school year. There are important changes to these requirements for next year.

To get ready, the Washington State Department of Health strongly encourages you to schedule your child’s immunization visit as early as possible with their doctor or health care provider, so your child is up to date well before the first day of school. The summer months are a great time to get your child caught up with immunizations. Schedule your appointments early, since doctors' offices' schedules quickly fill up in August. Turn in your updated immunization paperwork to your child's school by August 18. This is especially important if your child is transitioning to Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, or 7th grade because each of these grades has new requirements.

Students who do not meet the immunization requirements for school will be excluded from school, per the Revised Code of Washington RCW 28A.210.120. According to this law, any child attending school in Washington State is required to be fully immunized against or have an exemption in place for the following diseases: Measles (Rubeola), Chickenpox (Varicella), Mumps, Haemophilus influenzae Type B Disease (Hib)*, German measles (Rubella), Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Polio, Tetanus, Pneumococcal disease, and Whooping cough (Pertussis).

Not sure if your child's immunizations are caught up? Access your family's immunization records online.