Immunizations

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:

A completed Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) signed by a health care provider.
A CIS filled out by you or another parent/guardian with medical records attached.
A CIS printed by a health care provider or school from the Washington State Immunization Information System.
A CIS printed from MyIR which is a free Department of health online tool that allows families to view and print their official immunization records themselves. Go to Washington MyIR to begin the sign-up process.

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 7^th grade to better align with the updated 2019 national immunization schedule (CDC Immunization Schedule). In the past the Tdap booster was required starting at 6^th grade.

For the 2022-23 school year all students attending grades 7 through 12 must have had one dose of Tdap vaccine:

For students in 7^th and 9th grade, the Tdap vaccine must be given at or after age 10 to be accepted for school entry.
For students in 10^th to 12^th grades, the Tdap vaccine must be given at or after age 7 to be accepted for school entry.

See below for vaccine schedules and forms for the 2022-2023 school year: