Ready to go back to school? These vaccines are required for all Pennsylvania students
Though summer is still in full swing, the 2023-24 academic year will be here before you know it. If your children are starting school in Pennsylvania, you might need to make sure they are up to date on their immunizations and checkups.
Schools in Centre County are set to start in mid- to late August, though start dates vary by district. State College Area School District is slated to begin classes Aug. 22, while Penns Valley Area School District and Bellefonte Area School District, among others, will begin classes Aug. 29.
Regardless, time is short to catch up on required immunizations. Fortunately, resources are available in Pennsylvania to connect you with providers, receive same-day immunizations or help low-income patients find treatments.
Here’s what you need to know about school immunizations in Pennsylvania.
When must children get their shots in Pennsylvania?
The commonwealth’s full vaccination schedule, required examinations and more are established under chapter 23 of the Pennsylvania Code. Requirements apply to all students, including those studying at private schools. Children risk exclusion from school if they do not receive required vaccines or have a plan to complete their immunizations.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, students need at least five required immunizations before attending school in any grade.
For attendance in all grades, children in Pennsylvania need the following vaccines:
Four doses of diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccines, usually delivered collectively as DTAP or TDP, with one dose delivered after a child’s fourth birthday.
Four doses of the polio vaccine, with the fourth dose delivered on or after a child’s fourth birthday and at least six months after the previous dose. Notably, a fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was administered after a child’s fourth birthday, according to state guidelines.
Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, usually delivered as MMR
Three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine
Two doses of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or evidence of immunity, which can include a diagnosis or verification from a health care provider
For seventh-grade entry, children in Pennsylvania need the following additional shots:
One dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (TDaP) by the first day of seventh grade
One dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) by the first day of seventh grade
For 12th-grade entry, students in Pennsylvania need the following additional shot:
One dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) by the first day of 12th grade. If one dose was administered at 16 years or older, that will count as the required dose for 12th-grade entry.
Though influenza immunization is not required by law, Pennsylvania students and staff are encouraged to annually receive flu vaccines, according to the state Department of Health. COVID-19 vaccines and their subsequent boosters are not required for students, either.
Pennsylvania students must also receive several health inspections as they progress through their schooling. These include physical exams, dental exams, vision and hearing tests and scoliosis screenings, among other requirements.
Are there exceptions to Pennsylvania’s school vaccination requirements?
Yes. Families in Pennsylvania can contact schools directly to request immunization exemptions for children on medical, religious and philosophical grounds, the commonwealth’s health agency says.
Generally, a medical exemption would require a physician to evaluate a child and, in writing, state that receiving a certain immunization would endanger the child’s life or health. If a physician later determines that immunization is no longer detrimental to the child’s health, they would be required to receive the shot.
Parents or guardians must separately state in writing reasons for any religious or philosophical exemptions. According to Pennsylvania’s code, these exemptions are generally aligned “on religious grounds or on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief.”
Notably, children who are exempt from vaccinations may be removed from their schools during outbreaks, the Pennsylvania Department of Health warns. These decisions are usually left to schools, though state officials may offer recommendations.
How can I get my child vaccinated in Pennsylvania?
Most immunizations are available through pediatricians and local health care offices, the Pennsylvania Department of Health advises.
Resources are also available for those who need assistance accessing vaccines for their children. Most notable among them is Pennsylvania’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides immunizations for children who do not have health insurance.
Children younger than 18 years old can receive VFC vaccines if they are uninsured, underinsured, eligible for Medicaid or identifying as an American Indian or Alaska Native, as defined by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. VFC vaccine prices are capped at $23.14 per dose as of 2022, though doctors can charge fees for each shot, but cannot refuse to vaccinate children if parents or guardians cannot cover fees.
As of 2022, 12 Centre County sites are recognized as enrolled VFC providers. You can view a full interactive map online with locations spread through the entire commonwealth by visiting health.pa.gov/topics/programs/immunizations/pages/VFC.aspx.
Other online resources include informational pamphlets regarding immunizations, portals for immunization records and interactive quizzes to help assess vaccination needs for children and adults.
