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Minimum Immunization Requirements for Children Enrolling or Entering a Child Care Facility or School in Illinois, 2022-2023

Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

Three doses of DTP or DTaP by 1 year of age. One additional booster dose by 2nd birthday.

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

First Entry into School (Kindergarten or 1st Grade)

Four or more doses of DTP/DTaP with the last dose being a booster and received on or after the 4th birthday.

Other Grades
  • Three or more doses of DTP/DTaP or Td; with the last dose qualifying as a booster if received on or after the 4th birthday
  • Entering 6th grade, for students >= age 11, one dose of Tdap

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Minimum interval between series doses: 4 weeks (28 days)

Between series and booster: 6 months

No proof of immunity allowed

Polio

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

Two doses by 1 year of age. One additional dose by 2nd birthday.

Three doses for any child 24 months of age or older appropriately spaced.

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

First Entry into School (Kindergarten or 1st Grade)

Starting school year 2017-2018 any child entering Kindergarten shall show proof of 4 dose series with the last dose on or after the 4th birthday.

  • In accordance with the ACIP catch-up series a fourth dose of Polio is not needed if the third dose was administered at age four or older and at least six months after the previous dose was administered.

This is a progressive requirement starting in 2017-2018. For the 2022-2023 school year, the four-dose requirement applies to grades K-5

Other Grades

Three or more doses of polio vaccine with the last dose on or after the 4th birthday.

This is a progressive requirement starting in 2017-2018. For the 2022-2023 school year, the four-dose requirement applies to grades K-5

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Minimum interval between series doses: 4 weeks (28 days)

4th dose at least 6 months after previous dose

No proof of immunity allowed

Measles

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

One dose on or after the 1st birthday.

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

Two doses of measles vaccine, the first dose must have been received on or after the 1st birthday and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later.

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Proof of prior measles disease shall be verified with date of illness signed by a physician or laboratory evidence of measles immunity. A diagnosis of measles disease made by a physician on or after July 1, 2002 must be confirmed by laboratory evidence.

Rubella

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

One dose on or after the 1st birthday.

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

Two doses of rubella vaccine, the first dose must have been received on or after the 1st birthday and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later.

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Laboratory evidence of rubella immunity.

Mumps

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

One dose on or after the 1st birthday

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

Two doses of mumps vaccine, the 1st dose must have been received on or after the first birthday and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later.

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Proof of prior mumps disease shall be verified with date of illness signed by a physician or laboratory evidence of mumps immunity.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

Proof of immunization that complies with the ACIP recommendation for Hib vaccination. Children 24-59 months of age without series shall show proof of one dose of Hib vaccine at 15 months or older.

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

Any child five years of age (60 months of age) or older shall not be required to provide proof of immunization with Hib vaccine.

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Refer to ACIP Hib series schedule.

No proof of immunity allowed.

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (PCV)

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

Proof of immunization that complies with ACIP recommendations for PCV. Children 24 to 59 months of age without primary series of PCV, shall show proof of receiving one dose of PCV after 24 months of age.

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

Any child five years of age (60 months of age) or older shall not be required to provide proof of immunization with PCV vaccine.

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Refer to ACIP PCV series schedule.

No proof of immunity allowed.

Hepatitis B

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

Three doses appropriately spaced. (see doses under minimum interval). Third dose must have been administered on or after 6 months of age (168 days).

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

First Entry into School (Kindergarten or 1st Grade)

Kindergarten through 5th grade not a requirement.

Recommend reviewing these records and if necessary, have student be brought up to date with hepatitis B series.

Other Grades

Students entering 6th thru 12th grade, three doses of hepatitis B vaccine administered at appropriate intervals.

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Minimum intervals between doses: Between 1st and 2nd doses must be at least 4 weeks. Between 2nd and 3rd must be at least 8 weeks. Between 1st and 3rd must be at least 16 weeks.

Proof of prior or current infection, if verified by laboratory evidence, may be substituted for proof of vaccination.

Varicella

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

One dose on or after 1st birthday.

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

Two doses of varicella; The first dose must have been on or after the 1st birthday and the 2nd dose no less than 4 weeks (28) days later.

Two doses of varicella for students entering all grades.

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Proof of prior varicella disease shall be verified with:

  • date of illness signed by a physician; or
  • a health care provider's interpretation that a parent's or legal guardian's description of varicella disease history is indicative of past infection; or
  • laboratory evidence of varicella immunity

Meningococcal Disease

(MCV4), (MenACWY)

  • For Men ACWY vaccines may be administered simultaneously with Men B vaccines if indicated, but at a different anatomic site, if feasible

Vaccine Requirement

Child Care Facility, Preschool, Early Childhood, Pre-Kindergarten Programs

No Requirements

Kindergarten through 12th Grade

First Entry into School (Kindergarten or 1st Grade)

No Requirements

Other Grades
  • Applies to students entering 6th - 11th grades: one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine
  • 12th grade entry: two doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine

Minimum Intervals Allowed Between Doses and Other Options for Proof of Immunity

Minimum intervals for administration:

  • For 6th grade entry: the first dose received on or after the 11th birthday
    • If there is an indication for earlier vaccination (between ages 10 and 11) then the provider submits, a letter/statement stating the reasons and provides that with the vaccine records (Section 665.280). Letter/statement to be honored by School Health Authorities and NOT submitted to IDPH for Review.
  • For 12th grade entry: second dose on or after the 16th birthday and an interval of at least eight weeks after the first dose

Only one dose is required if the first dose was received at 16 years of age or older.

No proof of immunity allowed.

Notes

Students attending ungraded school programs must comply in accordance with grade equivalent.

Within the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, vaccine doses given up to four days before minimum interval or age can be counted as valid. However, this does not apply to intervals between live vaccines. Live vaccines shall not be given fewer than 28 days after receipt of a prior live vaccine.

Compliance with the School Code

A child shall be considered in compliance with the health examination and immunization requirement in Section 27-8.1 of the School Code if all applicable immunizations that a child can medically receive are given before entering school and a signed statement from a health care provider is presented indicating when the remaining medically indicated immunization will be administered within the current school year. Local school authorities shall monitor immunization schedules to assure their completion. If a child is delinquent for a scheduled appointment for immunization, he or she is no longer considered to be in compliance.