If your child needs immunizations for school, please contact your child's healthcare provider or a Free Immunization Clinic available in Pierce County: Immunization Clinic Calendar
COVID-19 vaccines are now available in Washington State to everyone age 6 months and older. Vaccine boosters are recommended for everyone age 5 and older. There are multiple locations offering the free COVID-19 vaccine in Pierce County. See Vaccine Locations near you. Covid-19 vaccines are recommended, but not required for school enrollment.
Immunization Requirements
As of August 1, 2020, all immunization records turned in to schools or child care centers are required by state law to be medically verified. Immunization records must be turned into the school on or before the first day of attendance. This means immunization records turned in to the school must be from a health care provider, or you must attach paperwork from a health care provider to your handwritten form that shows your child’s records are accurate. Children may begin school only if they received all of the required immunizations they are due to receive and submitted medically verified records on or before the first day of attendance. Your child cannot attend school until you provide these records.
Here are some examples of medically verified immunization records:
As of July 28, 2019, a new state law removes the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the MMR vaccine required for school and child care attendance. If you are requesting an exemption from one or more of the immunization requirements, you must provide the school a completed Certificate of Exemption.
Tdap Vaccine Booster required for 7th through 12th grade students
As of August 1, 2020 the Tdap school requirement is changing to start at 7th grade to better align with the updated 2019 national immunization schedule (CDC Immunization Schedule). In the past the Tdap booster was required starting at 6th grade.
For the 2022-23 school year all students attending grades 7 through 12 must have had one dose of Tdap vaccine:
See below for vaccine schedules and forms for the 2022-2023 school year: