TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas immunization school requirements are designed to protect all children against vaccine-preventable diseases. The 2015-2016 kindergarten through grade 12 school immunization requirements and recommendations are based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations and the consensus of the Governor’s Child Health Advisory Committee Immunization Workgroup.

The 2015-2016 school required immunizations are:

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP): Five doses required. A single dose of Tdap is required for grades 7-12 if there is no previous history of Tdap vaccination, regardless of interval since the last Td.
Poliomyelitis (IPV/OPV): Four doses required. One dose required after age 4 regardless of the number of previous doses, with a 6 month minimum interval from the previous dose.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella: two doses required.
Hepatitis B: three doses required for grades K-12.
Varicella (chickenpox): two doses required for grades K-12 unless history of Varicella disease documented by a licensed physician.
“Vaccination saves the lives and prevents others from suffering from diseases and permanent disabilities,” said Brenda Walker, director of disease control and prevention at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. “If children aren’t vaccinated, they can spread disease to other children who are too young to be vaccinated or whose medical condition prevents them from being vaccinated.”

In addition to the immunizations required for school entry listed above, ACIP also recommends the following vaccinations:

Meningococcal (MCV4): one dose recommended at 11 years with a booster dose at 16 years of age; not required for school entry.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): three doses recommended for males and females at 11 years of age; not required for school entry.
Influenza: yearly vaccination recommended for all ages 6 months and above; not required for school entry.
For more information, visit the Kansas Immunization Program website at kdheks.gov/immunize.