With few exceptions, California law requires all students attending public or private school be vaccinated against certain infectious diseases to keep themselves and their classmates safe.
As children across the Southland prepare to go to school, it’s important for parents to know there are state requirements in place mandating that their children, with few exceptions, must show proof of vaccinations before that can attend school.
Under California law, students who are entering school are required to submit proof that they have received certain vaccines. School immunization requirements protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, mumps, and whooping cough.
“The reason behind the vaccine requirements is to protect children from vaccine preventable diseases that can have deadly and devasting effects on children, and to protect the vulnerable who cannot get vaccinated in our schools and in the community,” said Dr. Lisa P. Luu, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
With few exceptions, California law requires all students attending public or private school be vaccinated against certain infectious diseases to keep themselves and their classmates safe. The school must have a copy of each student’s vaccination record on file.
According to the California Department of Public Health, California immunization requirements for children entering K-12th grade, including transitional kindergarten, need to show proof of vaccination against the following childhood diseases:
• Full immunization against polio.
• Full immunization against whooping cough/tetanus.
• Full immunization against hepatitis B.
• Full immunization against chicken pox.
• Full immunization against measles/mumps and rubella.
For 7th grade advancement, children need to have received a booster shot against whooping cough.
Dr. Luu encourages parents to discuss their children’s vaccination status with their child’s pediatrician.
