Immunization requirements are organized by grade level to help parents easily identify requirements for their child. These requirements will be updated as needed to reflect any new, mandated state immunization requirements.
Elementary Students
Kindergarten – Grade 3
- DTaP: 5 doses with the last dose at age 4 or older (only exception is if 4th dose is after age 4)
- NEW NYS IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS (4)
- IPV: 4 doses (unless 3rd dose received at 4 years of age or older)
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses, 1st dose may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be received 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 24 weeks of age.
- MMR: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday; must have 28 days between doses 1 and 2 of measles vaccine
- Varicella: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday
Grades 4-5
- DTaP: 5 doses with the last dose at age 4 or older (only exception is if 4th dose is after age 4)
- IPV: 3 doses
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses, 1st dose may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be received 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 24 weeks of age.
- MMR: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday, must have 28 days between doses 1 and 2 of measles vaccine
- Varicella: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday
Middle School
Grade 6
- DTaP: 3 doses
- Tdap: 1 dose, not required until the student turns 11 years of age; a dose of Tdap received at 7 years of age or older will meet this requirement
- IPV: 4 doses (unless 3rd dose received at 4 years of age or older)
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses, 1st dose may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be received 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 24 weeks of age. 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 through 15 years of age
- MMR: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday, must have 28 days between doses 1 and 2 of measles vaccine
- Varicella: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday
Grade 7
- DTaP: 3 doses
- Tdap: 1 dose
- IPV: 4 doses (unless 3rd dose received at 4 years of age or older)
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses, 1st dose may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be received 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 24 weeks of age. 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 through 15 years of age
- MMR: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday, must have 28 days between doses 1 and 2 of measles vaccine
- Varicella: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday
- MenACWY: 1 dose meningococcal vaccine
Grade 8
- DTaP: 3 doses
- Tdap: 1 dose
- IPV: 4 doses (unless 3rd dose received at 4 years of age or older)
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses, 1st dose may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be received 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 24 weeks of age. 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 through 15 years of age
- MMR: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday, must have 28 days between doses 1 and 2 of measles vaccine
- Varicella: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday
- MenACWY: 1 dose meningococcal vaccine
High School
Grade 9
- DTaP: 3 doses
- Tdap: 1 dose
- IPV: 4 doses (unless 3rd dose received at 4 years of age or older)
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses, 1st dose may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be received 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 24 weeks of age. 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 through 15 years of age
- MMR: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday, must have 28 days between doses 1 and 2 of measles vaccine
- Varicella: 2 doses, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday
Grades 10-12
DTaP: 3 doses
- Tdap: 1 dose
- IPV: 3 doses
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses, 1st dose may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be received 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 24 weeks of age. 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 through 15 years of age.
- MMR: 2 doses measles vaccine, 1 dose of mumps and rubella vaccines; 1st dose on or after 1st birthday; must have 28 days between doses 1 and 2 of measles vaccine
- Varicella: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday
- MenACWY: 2 doses of meningococcal vaccine for grade 12 only, minimal interval between doses is 8 weeks, (1 dose MenACWY if 1st dose received no more than 4 days before 16 years of age).
View or download the New York State Department of Health 2019-20 Immunization Requirements.
Updated June 2018
Acceptable Proofs of Immunizations
- Healthcare practitioner record, signed by a practitioner licensed in New York State.
- Records acceptable without a signature: NYSIIS Record; Official registry from another State/Nation; Electronic health record; School health record, (must be transferred directly from one school to another)
- Diagnosis of Disease as Evidence of Immunity – ONLY allowed for varicella. Must be diagnosed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant.
- Serological Evidence of Immunity – Allowed for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and poliomyelitis (all three serotypes must be positive)
Medical Exemptions
A student may attend school without the required immunizations if they have a medical exemption. Bethlehem Central School District requests that the following form be completed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in NYS certifying that the immunization may be detrimental to the child’s health. It must contain sufficient information to identify a medical contraindication to a specific immunization and specifying the length of time the immunization is medically contraindicated. This form will then be reviewed by the school physician to determine if additional documentation is required. A medical exemption must be reissued annually.