Immunization Information for Schools and Child Care

 

 

 

When groups of children come together the opportunity for disease to spread is increased. School and childcare staff play an important role in assuring safe and healthy futures for California youth by ensuring that all children in attendance are fully immunized.

Information for Schools

2012 Assembly Bill 354: The 7th Grade California Immunization Law
The immunization law requires all students entering into 7th grade to show proof of a pertussis (whooping cough) booster shot, known as Tdap before the start of school each Fall. Children who cannot prove vaccination or exemption status will not be allowed school entry.

Inform parents throughout the year. Please use your school websites, newsletters, report card messages, phone message systems, and other communications to send information to parents. 

Additional immunizations are recommended for this age group. Help promote the preteen doctor visit to get students up-to-date on their meningococcal, varicella, human papillomavirus (HPV), and flu vaccines.

Kindergarten Immunization Assessment

The California Department of Public Health requires schools to annually submit immunization information about kindergarten which identifies how many students are:

• Up-to-date with their immunizations
• Admitted "on condition" that the student will receive the still-needed vaccine doses as they become due in the future (Conditional Entrants)
• Exempt due to a personal and/or religious belief against vaccines (Personal Belief Exemption or PBE).

View immunization data for each school below.

2011 Immunization Rate Data (GIS Map Format)

• Kindergarten Immunization Rates for Public Schools
• Kindergarten Immunization Rates for Private Schools

2010 Immunization Rate Data (GIS Map Format)

• Kindergarten Immunization Rates for Public Schools
• Kindergarten Immunization Rates for Private Schools

Letter Sent to all Parents of Children Attending a San Francisco School or Child Care

A letter from the San Francisco Department of Public Health will be sent to all parents of children who attend a public or private school or child care establishment in San Francisco. This letter is to notify parents about the possibility of their child being required to stay home from school or child care if he/she is not up-to-date with his/her immunizations and there is a high risk of certain diseases, such as pertussis (whooping cough). You can download a copy of the letter below. Spanish and Chinese language versions will be posted soon.

• San Francisco Department of Public Health Pertussis Letter - Schools
• San Francisco Department of Public Health Pertussis Letter - Child Care 
• List of Immunizations Required for School Grades K-12  [English]  [Spanish]  [Chinese]
• List of Immunizations Required for Child Care  [English]  [Spanish]  [Chinese]

School Laws

• California State rules and regulations govern student entry into kindergarten through 12th grade.
• As of July 1, 2011, California law requires all students entering 7th grades to show proof of a pertussis (whooping cough) booster shot, known as Tdap before starting school.
• As of July 2001, kindergarteners must have evidence of chickenpox vaccine. Alternatively, a physician's note confirming prior chickenpox disease is acceptable.
• Medical exemptions to immunizations exist to accommodate children who have a medical condition for which vaccinations are contraindicated. A note from the child's doctor will suffice.

• A parent philosophically opposed to vaccination has a right to notify the school administration of such belief by signing the back of the student's blue card in the personal beliefs section.

Child Care Laws

• Entry requirements govern family child care (in someone's home) and center-based childcare.
• As of July, 2001, evidence of chickenpox vaccine was required for entry into any child care facility. A doctor's note confirming prior chickenpox disease is also acceptable.
• Medical exemptions to immunizations exist to accommodate children who have a medical condition for which vaccinations are contraindicated. A note from the child's doctor will suffice.

• A parent philosophically opposed to vaccination also has a right to notify the child care administrator of such belief by signing the back of the child's blue card in the personal beliefs section.

Vaccine Materials

Order free blue cards and other immunization materials here.

San Francisco Immunization Programs for Children

• Vaccines for Children
• Perinatal Hepatitis B Program
• San Francisco Immunization Coalition