Immunization Policy
In compliance with the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health, all students entering school this year must have at least one dose of all required vaccines.
2017-18-school-immunization-requirement
Vaccines are required on the first day of school.
- A child must have at least one dose of all vaccinations or risk exclusion.
- A child may have a documented medical, religious, or philosophical exemption from these vaccinations.
- Even if exempt, a child may be excluded from school during an outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease.
If a child doesn’t have required doses, they must within the first 5 days of school:
- Receive the next dose, if medically appropriate
- Have a parent/guardian provide a medical plan if the next dose isn’t the final dose of the series
- Have a parent/guardian provide a medical plan if the next dose is not medically appropriate
| All grades | Doses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis (DTP/Dtap/DT/Td, or Tdap*) | 4* | 1 dose at/after age 4 |
| Polio (OPV/IPV) | 4 | 4th dose at/after age 4, at least 6 months after previous dose** |
| Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR/MMRV) | 2 | At/after age 1 |
| Hepatitis B (HBV) | 3 | |
| Chickenpox (Varicella/MMRV) | 2 | At/after age 1*** |
| 7th Grade | Doses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) | 1 | At/after age 2 |
| Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis (Tdap) | 1 | At/after age 7 |
*Only 3 doses of Td-containing vaccine are necessary if series is started at or after age 7, and at least one dose is Tdap ** A 4th dose is not necessary if the 3rd dose was given at age 4 or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose *** Or documentation of immunity by lab test or written statement from parent, guardian, or physician