PENNSYLVANIA MANDATED IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
The District's immunization practices follow PA School Code § 23.83: Immunization Requirements, and Board Policy 203: Immunizations and Communicable Diseases.
All students must have a current vaccination on record with their home school's nurse by October 2, 2026. For more information, please read the 2026-2027 Vaccination Requirements Letter to Parents and Guardians.
School Vaccination Requirements for Attendance in PA Schools:
Pennsylvania Required Immunizations for Attendance
Students entering Kindergarten, 7th grade, 12th grade, and all new students are required to have certain immunizations prior to attending school.
A student must have the required doses complete, or medically appropriate doses up to date and a plan in place for remaining doses by the fifth day of school, or they are at risk of exclusion. For a single-dose vaccine, the child must have this vaccine before the first day of school, or the child may be excluded from attending.
All Grades (K-12)
- Four (4) doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (one dose on or after the fourth birthday) *
- Four (4) doses of polio (fourth dose on or after fourth birthday and at least six months after previous dose given) **
- Two (2) doses of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
- Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B
- Two (2) doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity
*usually given as DTP or DTaP or DT or Td
**A fourth dose not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least six months after the previous dose.
7th grade
In addition to all other required grade school immunizations:
- One (1) dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) on the first day of seventh grade
- One (1) dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of seventh grade
Note: If a child gains entrance to school in any succeeding year, the same immunizations are required on the first day.
12th grade
In addition to all other required grade school immunizations:
- One (1) dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on the first day of 12th grade. If one dose was given at 16 years of age or older, that shall count as the 12th grade dose.
These requirements allow for the following exemptions: medical reason, religious belief, or philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction. Even if your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be excluded from school during an outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease.
Immunization Spacing Requirements
Pennsylvania School Code §23.83, b (1)—(7) states that in addition to having the correct number of doses for each required immunization, all the required immunizations must be properly spaced in accordance with recommendations developed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The recommended spacing for the required immunizations is calculated from birth and is as follows:
DTaP (PA requirement - 4 doses)
- Recommended dosage spacing: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 - 18 months, 4 - 6 years
- The first dose must be given at 6 weeks or later.
- 4th dose must be given on/after 4th birthday
Polio (PA requirement - 4 doses)
- Recommended dosage spacing: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 - 6 years
- The first dose must be given at 6 weeks or later
- 4th dose must be given on/after 4th birthday and at least 6th months after previous dose was administered
Hepatitis B (PA Requirement - 3 doses)
- Recommended Dosage Spacing: Birth, 1-2 months, 6 months
- Minimum spacing between 1st - 2nd doses: 4 weeks
- Minimum spacing between 1st - 3rd doses: 16 weeks
- Minimum spacing between 2nd - 3rd doses: 8 weeks
- Minimum spacing for 3rd dose and birth date: 24 weeks
MMR (PA Requirement - 2 doses)
- Recommended Dosage Spacing: 12 - 15 months, 4 - 6 years
- The first dose must be given on/after 1st birthday.
- If under the age of 4; the second dose may be administered 4 weeks after the 1st dose.
Varicella (PA Requirement - 2 doses)
- Recommended Dosage Spacing: 12 - 15 months, 4 - 6 years
- The first dose must be given on/after 1st birthday.
- If under the age of 4; the second dose may be administered 12 weeks after the 1st dose.
MCV, meningococcal conjugate vaccine (PA Requirement - 2 doses)
- Recommended Dosage Spacing: 11 - 12 years, 16 -17 years
Tdap (PA Requirement - 1 dose)
- Recommended Dosage Spacing: 11 - 12 years
NOTE: Live attenuated MMR and Varicella vaccinations, if given separately, must be given at least 28 days apart
Each student's immunization record is maintained. If your child receives additional immunizations, please send the information to the school nurse so they can update the record.
Documentation to provide to your child's School Nurse:
- Proof of vaccination OR
- A written plan from a medical office to obtain a vaccination OR
- Written documentation outlining your child’s exemption based on medical reasons, religious belief, or philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction (sample).