Immunizations & Health Mandates

 

K-12 Admission Requirements

• Polio - 4 doses (3 doses OK if at least one is given on or after the 4th birthday).
• DTaP - 5 doses (4 doses OK if at least one is given on or after the 4th birthday, 3 doses OK if at least one dose of Tdap, DTaP, or DTP is given on or after the 7th birthday).
• Hepatitis B - 3 doses.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) - 2 doses given on or after the 1st birthday (two doses of measles, two doses of mumps, and one dose of rubella meet the requirement, either separately or combined).
• Varicella - 2 doses.
• Tdap (Grades 7th-12th) - 1 dose given on or after the 7th birthday.

7th Grade Advancement

• Tdap - 1 dose given on or after the 7th birthday.
• Varicella - 2 doses.

Students who had a valid personal beliefs exemption filed before 2016 between Kindergarten and 6th grade need to meet the requirements listed for TK/K-12 as well as requirements for 7th grade.

These students will need documentation for the following immunizations:

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis containing vaccine (DTaP, DTP, DT, Tdap, or Td) - 3 doses. One dose of Tdap vaccine given on or after the 7th birthday will meet the 7th grade requirement and count as one of the 3 doses required for students TK/K-12.
• Polio (OPV or IPV) - 4 doses (3 doses ok if one given on or after the 2nd birthday)
• MMR - 2 doses (or 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine and 1 dose of rubella vaccine)
• Varicella - 2 doses

Medical Exemptions

All medical exemptions for schools and child care facilities must be submitted through the California Immunization Registry - Medical Exemption website (CAIR-ME) by physicians licensed in California. Schools and child care facilities may only accept new medical exemptions that are issued using CAIR-ME.

This change impacts medical exemptions for:

• New enrollments as of January 1, 2021.
• Students who transition to the next grade span (TK/K - 6th grade, 7th-12th grade).
• Students whose temporary medical exemption have expired.
• Medical exemptions that were revoked due to the issuing physician being a subject of disciplinary action.

In order to receive a medical exemption, parents must create a CAIR-ME account and log in to submit a request for a medical exemption. Next, the child's physician can complete the medical exemption in CAIR-ME and print a copy for the parents to give to the school or child care facility.

A medical exemption may be issued in CAIR-ME no more than 12 months before a child first enters a grade span (grade spans are birth-preschool, TK/K-6th, and 7th-12th).

Families who have a medical exemption due to a history of disease, for example from Varicella / Chickenpox, must also follow this process.

To request a medical exemption, please visit the CAIR-ME web page.

For Frequently Asked Questions on Medical Exemptions, please visit Shots for School web page.

For additional questions about submitting a request through CAIR-ME, please follow up with your child's physician. For questions about PAUSD Registration, please email Registration Services or call (650) 329-3707.

For information on where to get immunizations for your child in Santa Clara County, click here | Spanish.

Vaccines for Children Program:

To be eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, children must be 18 years of age or younger and meet any one of the following criteria:

1. Be eligible for Medi-Cal or Child Health and Disability Program (CHDP) or
2. Have no health insurance (be uninsured) or
3. Be American Indian or Alaskan Native

VFC Provider Locations

Tuberculosis (TB) Requirements

Students enrolling into a Santa Clara County school for the first time into kindergarten or upon transfer to any grade are required to have their healthcare provider complete a one-time TB Risk Assessment for School Entry form completed by a United States licensed health professional.

TB risk assessment documentation is valid for up to twelve months before registration for school. Proof of appointment or a completed TB Risk Assessment must be received before student's will receive their school placement. 

Students with a positive risk assessment should have a TB test (preferably Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test, especially for children who have received the BCG vaccine). If the student has a negative TB test no further evaluation is needed. All children with a positive TB test should undergo a medical evaluation, including a symptom review, physical exam, and CXR. The provider should include the results of the CXR on the form. 

Santa Clara County recommends a TB blood test (IGRA) or a tuberculin skin test (TST) at least 8-10 weeks after a student arrives in the US because developing an immune response to TB infection can take this long. Consequently, if these students have no symptoms of TB disease, the IGRA or TST can be deferred until then.

For information on tuberculosis requirements and where to get a tuberculosis screening for your child in Santa Clara County, click here.

Oral Health Assessment TK/KINDERGARTEN ONLY

A dental check-up is required by May 31st of TK/Kindergarten or 1st grade for students who did not attend a California public school for Kindergarten.

• To be valid, the form must show the oral health examination was preformed no earlier than 12 months prior to the date of initial enrollment.
• If you need to waive your child from the oral health assessment, please complete this form and return to your child's school. 
• For information on low-cost dental clinics, click here.
• For families with DentiCal, the following lists providers who accept DentiCal:
  1. Santa Clara County DentiCal Providers
  2. San Mateo County DentiCal Providers

Health Examination (CHDP Report) FIRST GRADE ONLY

As of July 1, 2024, this mandate is no longer required.

 

Immunization or Health Mandate records from your child's physician can be delivered to your child's school site or Health Services:

• By mail:
  Attn: Health Services
  25 Churchill Ave.
  Palo Alto, 94306
• By fax: (650) 833-4226
• Drop-Off:
  District Office Portable A
  25 Churchill Ave.
  Palo Alto, 94306
  Hours: 8 am - 4:30 pm (note - during summer, the District Office is closed on Fridays).

Cancer Prevention Act

The parents and guardians of pupils admitted or advancing to the sixth grade level are hereby notified that the State of California advises that pupils adhere to current immunization guidelines, as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, regarding full human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization before admission or advancement to the eighth grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school. 

While HPV vaccination is not required for school, HPV vaccination is routinely recommended at age 11-12 years, and can start as early as 9 years. The vaccine is more effective if given sooner because pre-teens produce more antibodies after HPV vaccination than older teens. Vaccinating at a younger age can also protect kids before they are exposed to the virus. HPV vaccination can prevent over 90 percent of cancers caused by HPV. HPV vaccines are very safe, and scientific research shows that the benefits of HPV vaccination far outweigh the potential risks. 

For more information, please see Health and Safety Code 120336 and California Education Code 48980.4.