Pacific Grove Unified School District
555 Sixex Avenue
Pacific Grove CA 93950
831-646-6510

Immunizations Required to Enter School

The California School Immunization Law requires that children be up-to-date on their immunizations (shots) to attend school or child care. Diseases like measles and whooping cough spread quickly, so children need to be protected before they enter. Most children need booster shots before starting kindergarten. A new 7th grade entry requirement went into effect July 1, 1999.

A varicella (chickenpox) requirement for kindergarten and child care entry went into effect July 1, 2001.

At registration, you will need all your child's Immunization Records. They must show the date your child was given each required shot. If you do not have an Immunization Record or your child has not received all required shots, call your doctor or local health department now for an appointment.

REQUIREMENT: ChickenPox (Varicella) for Kindergarten Entry

Governor Davis signed into law SB-741 mandating varicella (chickenpox) immunization for students entering kindergarten, effective July 1, 2001.

How the Kindergarten Requirement Will Work

  • Beginning July 1, 2001, all students entering kindergarten in both public and private school will need to present documentation of varicella immunization or immunity.
  • Required documentation will be an immunization record that shows either one dose of varicella vaccine has been received by the student or that the student has had chickenpox disease.
  • As with other provisions of the California School Immunization Law, school will be responsible for recording the date of the chickenpox shot or that the child has a history of chickenpox disease on the student's blue California School Immunization Record.
  • Personal beliefs and medical exemptions are allowed.

Chickenpox is not always a benign disease, and 10,000 cases are hospitalized annually. On average, one child and one adult dies each week from chickenpox in the United States.

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Number of Immunizations Required to Enter School (by Age of Child)
Chart from State of California, Department of Health Services, Immunization Branch
Chart Posted: 12/12/2000
Vaccine

Child Care Age (months old)

School Age
(years old or grade)
2-3
months		 4-5
months		 6-14
months		 15-17
months		 18+
months		 4-6
yrs		 7-17
yrs		 7th
grade

Polio

 1 2 2 3 3 4a 4b  

(OPV/IPV)

                

DTP/DTaP

 1 2 3 3 4 5a 3b  

Td Booster

               [1e]

MMR

       1 1 2c 1c 2c

Hepatitis B

 1 2 2 2 3 3   3g
[more info]

Hib

 1 2 2 1d 1d      

Varicella;
starting
7/1/2000

         1f 1f    

Footnotes for Immunization Chart
a   This number includes kindergarten boosters. If your child is 4-6 years old, entry requirements are met with only 3 polio and 4 DTPs if at least one polio and one DTP dose were after your child's fourth birthday.
b   For children 7-17 years old, entry requirements are met with only 3 polio and 3 DTP or DT/Td if at least one polio and DTP or DT/Td were after your child's 2nd birthday. For students age 7 and older, pertussis immunization is not required.
c   One dose on or after the first birthday is required for grades 1-6 and 8-12. Mumps immunization is not required for students age 7 and older.
d   One dose must be on or after the 1st birthday regardless of any doses received earlier. The Hib requirement applies only to child care children under age 4 years and 6 months.
e   A Td booster is recommended but not required.
f   If a child has had chickenpox disease, ask your doctor to note it on the immunization record to meet the requirement.
g  

Two doses of the 2-dose formulation along with provider documentation that the 2-dose formulation was used for both doses and both doses were received at age 11-15 years will also fulfull this requirement.

Note: The 3-dose series of Hepatitis-B immunizations takes a minimum of 4 months to complete. Schools will be responsible for excluding those who have not started the shots or who are overdue for the next dose.

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7th Grade Immunization Law

Due to California immunization law, your child will need a second MMR and a three-shot Hepatitis-B vaccine series before entering 7th grade. Since the series is given over four-six months, it is important to start early. A Td booster is also recommended, but is not required.

These shots are available from your child's doctor or the Monterey County Health Department (see schedule below or website updates).

When your child has received the shots, please bring the yellow immunization record to the school office as proof of immunization.

Please complete this state mandated requirement in order to avoid exclusion of your child from school.

Students who have begun, but not completed the series prior to 7th grade will be given conditional entrance to school until they are due for the next dose.

If you have any questions, please call your health provider or the Health Department at 831-647-7670.

Monterey County Health Department Immunization Program
(availability times as of 6/2006)

Seaside
Seaside Family Health Center [map]
1150 Fremont Blvd.
Seaside, CA 93955
Appointments: 831-899-8100

Immunizations are conveniently available without
an appointment through our Public Health Clinic.
We make it easy to keep your child's vaccinations up to date.

Remember:
•  Parent or legal guardian must be present.
•  Bring all records of previous immunizations with you.
No immunization record, no shot!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Hours:
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- No child will be denied due to inability to pay

Pacific Grove Unified School District
Monterey County Office of Education
Questions or comments on the website to: webmaster@pgusd.org
updated: 6/15/06
immunizations.html