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2026-27 School Year New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance

2026-27 School Year New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance

All children must be age-appropriately immunized to attend school in New York State. The number of doses depends on the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Intervals between doses of vaccine must be in accordance with the AAP - Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. Doses received before the minimum age or intervals shown on the schedule are not valid and do not count toward the number of doses listed below. See footnotes for specific information for each vaccine. Children who are enrolling in gradeless classes must meet the immunization requirements of the grades for which they are age equivalent.

Immunization Requirements Summary Table

Vaccines Pre-Kindergarten (Child Caring Center, Day Care, Head Start, Nursery or Pre-K) Kindergarten and Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, and 11 Grades 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12

Diphtheria and Tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine and Pertussis vaccine (DTaP/ Tdap/Td)

 

4 doses

5 doses, or 4 doses if the 4th dose was received at 4 years or older and the series was started at less than 1 year of age, or 3 doses if 7 years or older and the series was started at 1 year or older

5 doses, or 4 doses if the 4th dose was received at 4 years or older and the series was started at less than 1 year of age, or 3 doses if 7 years or older and the series was started at 1 year or older

Tetanus and Diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine and Pertussis vaccine adolescent booster (Tdap)

 

Not applicable

Not applicable

1 dose given at age 10 years or older

Polio vaccine (IPV/OPV)

 

 

3 doses

4 doses, or 3 doses if the 3rd dose was received at 4 years or older

4 doses, or 3 doses if the 3rd dose was received at 4 years or older

Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR)

 

 

1 dose

2 doses

2 doses

Hepatitis B vaccine

 

3 doses

3 doses, or 2 doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) for children who received the doses at least 4 months apart between the ages of 11 years through 15 years

3 doses, or 2 doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) for children who received the doses at least 4 months apart between the ages of 11 years through 15 years

Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine

 

1 dose

2 doses

2 doses

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY)

 

Not applicable

Not applicable

Grades 7–11: 1 dose given at age 10 years or older

 

Grade 12: 2 doses or 1 dose if the dose was received at 16 years or older

Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (Hib)

 

1 to 4 doses

Not applicable

Not applicable

Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV)

 

1 to 4 doses

Not applicable

Not applicable

Dose requirements MUST be read with the footnotes below.

Footnotes & Specific Guidelines

1. General Immunity Criteria & Serologic Testing

  • Demonstrated serologic evidence of measles, mumps, or rubella antibodies or laboratory confirmation of these diseases is acceptable proof of immunity.

  • Serologic tests for polio are acceptable proof of immunity only if the test was performed before September 1, 2019, and all three serotypes were positive.

  • A positive blood test for hepatitis B surface antibody is acceptable proof of immunity to hepatitis B.

  • Demonstrated serologic evidence of varicella antibodies, laboratory confirmation of varicella disease, or diagnosis by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner that a child has had varicella disease is acceptable proof of immunity.

  • Note: Serological titers are never accepted for tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, meningococcal, haemophilus influenzae type b, and pneumococcal diseases.

2. Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine

(Minimum age: 6 weeks)

 

 

  • a. Children starting the series on time should receive a 5-dose series of DTaP vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 through 18 months, and at 4 years or older. The fourth dose may be received as early as age 12 months, provided at least 6 months have elapsed since the third dose. However, the fourth dose of DTaP need not be repeated if it was administered at least 4 months after the third dose. The final dose in the series must be received on or after the fourth birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose.

  • b. If the fourth dose of DTaP was administered at 4 years or older and at least 6 months after dose 3, the fifth (booster) dose is not required.

  • c. Children 7 years and older who are not fully immunized with the childhood DTaP vaccine series should receive Tdap vaccine as the first dose in the catch-up series; if additional doses are needed, use Td or Tdap vaccine. If the first dose was received before their first birthday, 4 doses are required, as long as the final dose was received at 4 years or older. If the first dose was received on or after the first birthday, 3 doses are required, as long as the final dose was received at 4 years or older.

  • d. For further information, refer to the NYSDOH Catch-Up Guidance for Children 4 Months through 6 Years of Age.

3. Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Adolescent Booster

(Minimum age for grades 6 through 12: 10 years)

 

  • a. Students 11 years or older entering grades 6 through 12 are required to have one dose of Tdap given at age 10 years or older.

  • b. Tdap may also be given as part of the catch-up series for students 7 years of age and older who are not fully immunized with the childhood DTaP series.

  • c. Students who are 10 years old in grade 6 and have not yet received a Tdap vaccine are in compliance until they turn 11 years old.

  • d. Refer to the NYSDOH Catch-Up Guidance for Children 7 through 9 Years of Age and 10 through 18 Years of Age for additional details.

4. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) / Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

(Minimum age: 6 weeks)

 

 

  • a. Children starting the series on time should receive a series of IPV at 2 months, 4 months, 6 through 18 months, and at 4 years or older. The final dose in the series must be received on or after the fourth birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose.

  • b. For students who received their fourth dose before age 4 and prior to August 7, 2010, 4 doses separated by at least 4 weeks is sufficient.

  • c. If the third dose of polio vaccine was received at 4 years or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose, the fourth dose is not required.

  • d. For children with a record of OPV, only trivalent OPV (tOPV) counts toward New York State school requirements. Doses of OPV given before April 1, 2016, should be counted unless specifically noted as monovalent, bivalent, or given during a poliovirus immunization campaign. Doses of OPV given on or after April 1, 2016, must not be counted.

  • e. Refer to the NYSDOH Catch-Up Guidance for Children 4 months through 17 Years of Age.

5. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

(Minimum age: 12 months)

 

 

  • a. The first dose of MMR vaccine must have been received on or after the first birthday. The second dose must have been received at least 28 days (4 weeks) after the first dose to be considered valid.

  • b. Measles: One dose is required for pre-kindergarten; two doses are required for grades K–12.

  • c. Mumps: One dose is required for pre-kindergarten; two doses are required for grades K–12.

  • d. Rubella: One dose is required for pre-kindergarten; one dose is required for grades K–12.

6. Hepatitis B Vaccine

  • a. Dose 1 may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be given at least 4 weeks (28 days) after dose 1. Dose 3 must be at least 8 weeks after dose 2 and at least 16 weeks after dose 1 and no earlier than age 24 weeks (when 4 doses are given, substitute "dose 4" for "dose 3" in these calculations).

  • b. Two doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) received at least 4 months apart at age 11 through 15 years will meet the requirement.

7. Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine

(Minimum age: 12 months)

 

 

  • a. The first dose must have been received on or after the first birthday. The second dose must have been received at least 28 days (4 weeks) after the first dose to be valid.

  • b. For children younger than 13 years, the recommended minimum interval between doses is 3 months (if administered at least 4 weeks after the first dose, it can be accepted as valid). For persons 13 years and older, the minimum interval between doses is 4 weeks.

8. Meningococcal Conjugate ACWY Vaccine (MenACWY)

(Minimum age for grades 7 through 12: 10 years)

 

  • a. One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine is required for students entering grades 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

  • b. For students in grade 12, if the first dose was received at 16 years or older, the second (booster) dose is not required.

  • c. The second dose must have been received at 16 years or older. The minimum interval between doses is 8 weeks.

9. Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Conjugate Vaccine

(Minimum age: 6 weeks)

 

  • a. Children starting the series on time should receive Hib vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and at 12 through 15 months. Children older than 15 months must get caught up according to the AAP catch-up schedule. The final dose must be received on or after 12 months.

  • b. If 2 doses were received before age 12 months, only 3 doses are required with dose 3 at 12 through 15 months and at least 8 weeks after dose 2.

  • c. If dose 1 was received at age 12 through 14 months, only 2 doses are required with dose 2 at least 8 weeks after dose 1.

  • d. If dose 1 was received at 15 months or older, only 1 dose is required.

  • e. Hib vaccine is not required for children 5 years or older.

  • f/g. Refer to NYSDOH Catch-Up Guidance for Healthy Children 4 Months through 4 Years of Age (PedvaxHIB, ActHIB, Hiberix, Pentacel, Vaxelis, or Unknown).

10. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)

(Minimum age: 6 weeks)

 

  • a. Children starting the series on time should receive PCV vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and at 12 through 15 months. Children older than 15 months must get caught up according to the AAP catch-up schedule. The final dose must be received on or after 12 months.

  • b. Unvaccinated children ages 7 through 11 months are required to receive 2 doses, at least 4 weeks apart, followed by a third dose at 12 through 15 months.

  • c. Unvaccinated children ages 12 through 23 months are required to receive 2 doses of vaccine at least 8 weeks apart.

  • d. If one dose of vaccine was received at 24 months or older, no further doses are required.

  • e. PCV is not required for children 5 years or older.

  • f. Refer to NYSDOH Catch-Up Guidance for Children 4 months through 4 Years of Age. Depending on vaccine brand, schedule may change.

Contact Information

New York State Department of Health

 

Division of Vaccine Excellence

Room 649, Corning Tower ESP, Albany, NY 12237

  • Phone: (518) 473-4437

  • Email: OSAS@health.ny.gov

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

 

School Compliance Unit, Bureau of Immunization

42-09 28th Street, 5th floor, Long Island City, NY 11101

  • Phone: (347) 396-2433

  • Email: school_immunizations@health.nyc.gov

Website: NY HEALTH GOV (Rev. 6/2026)