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Immunization Requirements
Required Immunizations
State law requires that all students under age 18 years, TK through grade 12, be immunized against certain diseases unless they are exempt for medical reasons. At the time of registration, the school is required to have proof that your child has received all currently due immunizations.
Check with your pediatrician, family physician or medical clinic to make sure your child is fully immunized. Your child may be excluded from attending school if these requirements are not met.
No Shots? No Records? No School.
| TK-12 Grade | 7th-12th Grade | 7th Grade Advancement |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Polio | 1 Tdap | 1 Tdap |
| 5 DTaP | 2 Varicella | |
| 3 Hep B | ||
| 2 MMR | ||
| 2 Varicella |
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Required Immunizations - English
California Department of Public Health
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Required Immunizations - Spanish
California Department of Public Health
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Parents/Guardians - Are your kids ready for School?
English version
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Parents/Guardians - Are your kids ready for School?
Spanish version
Ready for TK?
In 2025–26, TK is available to all children who will have their fourth birthday by September 1 of the school year.
Additional information available at Universal Prekindergarten FAQs - Elementary (CA Dept of Education).
Should students who are 4 years old receive their Kindergarten booster vaccines?
Yes. Under California’s kindergarten immunization requirements, even four-year-old children need their kindergarten immunizations prior to the first day of transitional kindergarten where they could potentially be exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases. The federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy Family Physicians recommend kindergarten immunizations starting as young as four years of age. (See CDC's Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for more details.)
Are students in transitional kindergarten subject to the Kindergarten immunization requirements?
Yes. They are required to have documentation of required immunizations or a valid exemption prior to admission to transitional kindergarten.
For students who are 3 years old at the time of admission to TK (Education Code section 48000[c]), schools are recommended to initially apply the pre-kindergarten immunization requirements (PDF) and to follow up with these students once they turn 4 years old to apply the TK/K immunization requirements.
Ready for 7th Grade?
All students entering, advancing or transferring into 7th grade will need proof of an adolescent whooping cough booster immunization (called “Tdap”) for school in the fall. Your student will not be able to receive their class schedule without documented proof of Tdap booster. In order to meet the 7th grade requirement, the Tdap booster needs to be given after they have turned 7 years old.
Immunization with Tdap can protect students, schools and communities against Pertussis.
Requiring 2 doses of chickenpox (varicella) vaccine at: 7th grade advancement
Medical exemptions for new admissions may be signed only by a California licensed MD/DO.
Each temporary medical exemption may be issued for no more than 12 months.
California Digital Vaccine Records
Access Your California Digital Vaccine Record
Did you know the California Digital Vaccine Record portal can access children's immunization records? We encourage parents to request a digital copy for their child’s records for child care or school.
Get a digital copy of your child’s vaccine record. Just enter a few details to get a link to your COVID-19 Vaccine Record with a QR code or your California Immunization Record. Save it on your phone and use it as proof of vaccination wherever you go.
If you are a parent or guardian and have multiple vaccine records associated with a single cell phone number or email address, enter each Digital Vaccine Record request separately.
Note: It is possible that some or all vaccine doses you received were not reported to the California Immunization Registry (CAIR), and therefore your Digital Vaccine Record may not be complete. Historically, only COVID-19 vaccinations were required to be reported to CAIR and effective January 1, 2023, all vaccines are required to be reported.
If you received your vaccinations from a federal agency (e.g., Department of Defense, Indian Health Services, or Veterans Affairs), you may need to contact those agencies for assistance with your vaccination record.
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California Digital Vaccine Record (DVR) Portal
Get a digital copy of your vaccine record
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Medical Exemptions
For admissions on or after January 1, 2021, what is required for a medical exemption to a required immunization?
As of January 1, 2021:
- Medical exemptions can only be issued through the California Immunization Registry – Medical Exemption website (CAIR-ME) by physicians licensed in California.
- Schools and child care facilities may only accept from parents new medical exemptions that are issued using CAIR-ME.
Are medical exemptions filed for children in attendance at a California child care facility or school before 2021 valid in later years?
A medical exemption filed at a pre-kindergarten facility or school remains valid until the earliest of:
- When the child enrolls in the next grade span (TK/K-6th grade, 7th-12th grade)
- The expiration date specified in a temporary medical exemption
- Revocation of the exemption because the issuing physician has been subject to disciplinary action from the physician’s licensing entity
A doctor has told a child’s parents that their child needs a medical exemption from a required immunization. How do parents get a medical exemption for their child?
Starting January 1, 2021, all new medical exemptions for school and child care entry must be issued through CAIR-ME. Parents can create an account and log in to CAIR-ME to submit a request for a medical exemption. Next, the child’s doctor can complete the medical exemption in CAIR-ME and print a copy for the parents to give to the child’s school or child care facility.