The Ohio Department of Health has established the following Immunization Summary for Child Care, Head Start, Pre-School and School Attendance. These immunizations are required for school attendance.
DTaP
Diphtheria,Tetanus, Pertussis
Kindergarten - Grade 12
Four (4) or more of DTaP or DT, or any combination. If all four doses were given before the 4th birthday, a fifth (5) dose is required. If the fourth dose was administered at least six months after the third dose, and on or after the 4th birthday, a fifth (5) dose is not required.*
*Recommended DTaP or DT minimum intervals for kindergarten students are four weeks between the first and second doses, and the second and third doses; and six months between the third and fourth doses and the fourth and fifth doses. If a fifth dose is administered prior to the fourth birthday, a sixth dose is recommended but not required
POLIO
Kindergarten- Grade 12
Three (3) or more doses of IPV. The FINAL dose must be administered on or after the 4th birthday regardless of the number of previous doses and there must be six months spacing between doses 2 and 3.
*If any combination of IPV and OPV was received, four doses of either vaccine are required. Only trivalent OPV (tOPV) counts toward the U.S. vaccination requirements. Doses of OPV administered before April 1, 2016, should be counted (unless specifically noted as administered during a campaign). Doses of OPV administered on or after April 1, 2016, should not be counted.
MMR
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Two (2) doses of MMR. Dose 1 must be administered on or after the first birthday. The second dose must be administered at least 28 days after dose 1.
HEP B
Hepatitis B
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B. The second dose must be administered at least 28 days after the first dose. The third dose must be given at least 16 weeks after the first dose and at least 8 weeks after the second dose. The last does in the series (third or fourth dose), must not be administered before age 24 weeks.
Varicella
(Chickenpox)
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Two (2) doses of varicella vaccine must be administered prior to entry. Dose 1 must be administered on or after the first birthday. The second dose should be administered at least three (3) months after dose 1; however, if the second dose is administered at least 28 days after the first dose, it is considered valid.
Tdap
Grades 7-12
One dose of Tdap vaccine must be administered on or after the tenth birthday. Tdap can be given regardless of the interval since the last tetanus or diphtheria-toxoid containing vaccine. All students in grades 8-12 must have one documented Tdap dose.
*Children aged seven years or older with an incomplete history of DTaP should be given Tdap as the first dose in the catch-up series. If the series began at age seven to nine years, the fourth dose must be a Tdap given at age 11-12 years. If the third dose of Tdap is given at age 10 years, no additional dose is needed at age 11-12 years.
MCV4
Meningococcal ACWY
Grade 7-11
One dose of meningococcal (serogroup A, C, W, and Y) vaccine must be administered on or after the 10th birthday. All students in grades 8-12 must have one documented Tdap dose.
Grade 12
Two doses of meningococcal (serogroup A, C, W, and Y) vaccine. Second dose on or after age 16 years. If the first dose was given on or after the 16th birthday, only one dose is required
Notes:
- Vaccine should be administered according to the most recent version of the Recommended Immunization Schedules for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger or the Catch-up Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 4 Months Through 18 Years Who Start Late or Who Are More Than 1 Month Behind, as published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Schedules are available for print or download here.
- Vaccine doses administered 4 days before the minimum interval or age are valid (grace period). Doses administered 5 days earlier than the minimum interval or age are not valid doses and should be repeated as age-appropriate. If MMR and Varicella are not given on the same day, the doses must be separated by at least 28 days with no grace period.
- For additional information please refer to the Ohio Revised Code 3313.67 and 3313.671 for School Attendance and the ODH Director’s Journal Entry (available at the Ohio Department of Health website under Immunization: Required Vaccines for Childcare and School). These documents list required and recommended immunizations and indicate exemptions to immunizations.
- Please contact the Ohio Department of Health Immunization Program at (800) 282-0546 or (614) 466-4643 with questions or concerns.