Each school year, New York State requires children attending daycare, pre-K through 12th grade, and college students registered for 6 or more credit hours to receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule in order to attend or remain in school (unless they have a valid medical exemption to immunization).This includes all public, private, and religious schools. 

Vaccinations are a crucial aspect of preventative healthcare that can help protect individuals from a variety of infectious diseases. Vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system to produce an immune response to specific pathogens, without causing the disease itself. They are used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protect individuals from serious illnesses. 

Vaccines are safe and effective at preventing infectious diseases like polio and measles, which used to affect school children. Below is a breakdown of school  vaccination requirements for New York State. A full description from the New York State department of Health can be found here. 

Vaccines required for day care, pre-K, High school and post-secondary education (college) attendance: 

• Diphtheria and Tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine and Pertussis vaccine (DTaP or Tdap): Children starting the series on time should receive a 5-dose series of DTaP vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and at 15 through 18 months and at 4 years or older. The fourth dose may be received as early as age 12 months, provided at least 6 months have elapsed since the third dose. However, the fourth dose of DTaP need not be repeated if it was administered at least 4 months after the third dose of DTaP. The final dose in the series must be received on or after the fourth birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose. 
• Hepatitis B vaccine: Dose 1 may be given at birth or anytime thereafter. Dose 2 must be given 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 age 24 weeks (when 4 doses are given, substitute “dose 4” for “dose 3” in these calculations). Two doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax) received at least 4 months apart at age 11 through 15 years will meet the requirement. 
• Measles: One dose is required for pre-kindergarten. Two doses are required for grades kindergarten through 12.  
• Mumps: One dose is required for pre-kindergarten. Two doses are required for grades kindergarten through 12. 
• Rubella vaccine: At least one dose is required for all grades (pre-kindergarten through 12). 
• Polio vaccine: Children starting the series on time should receive a series of IPV at 2 months, 4 months and at 6 through 18 months, and at 4 years or older. The final dose in the series must be received on or after the fourth birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose.  
• Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine: The first dose of varicella vaccine must have been received on or after the first birthday. The second dose must have been received at least 28 days (4 weeks) after the first dose to be considered valid. 

Additional vaccines required for middle school and high school

• Tdap vaccine for Grades 6-12
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) for Grades 7-12: One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra, Menveo or MenQuadf) is required for students entering grades 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Students in Grade 12 need an additional booster dose of MenACWY on or after their 16^th birthday.

Additional vaccines required for day care and pre-K

• Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (HiB): Children starting the series on time should receive Hib vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and at 12 through 15 months. Children older than 15 months must get caught up according to the ACIP catch-up schedule. The final dose must be received on or after 12 months.
• Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV): Children starting the series on time should receive PCV vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and at 12 through 15 months. Children older than 15 months must get caught up according to the ACIP catch-up schedule. The final dose must be received on or after 12 months. 

Need your children vaccinated?

Swift Urgent Care offers a range of vaccines to help protect individuals from infectious diseases and keep them safe and healthy. These vaccines include: 

• Flu 
• COVID-19 and boosters
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• TDAP
• Hepatitis B

We can also order others as needed via the local pharmacy (such as HPV).If you or your child is going back to school this September, and needs to meet vaccination requirements, visit either of our convenient locations for swift vaccination service!