A brief summary of the required immunizations for childcare facilities, schools and colleges is listed below. These vaccines are recommended for all children by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by the American Academies of Family Practice and Pediatrics.
Children enrolling in childcare facilities, preschool, pre-kindergarten
Infants entering childcare facilities must be up-to-date at the time of enrollment and are required to provide an updated certificate by 18 months of age showing they have completed all of the required vaccines.
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)
• Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella – One dose of each, usually given together as MMR
• Varicella – One dose or history of disease
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) – Age younger than 5 years only
• Hepatitis B (HBV)
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) – Age younger than 5 years only
• Hepatitis A – One dose, required by 18 months of age or older
Children enrolling in kindergarten
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT)
• Hepatitis B (HBV)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella – Two doses of each, usually given together as MMR
• Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV) – Final dose on or after the 4th birthday
• Varicella – Two doses or history of disease
• Hepatitis A – Total of two doses, spaced at least six months apart
All children entering seventh grade (including currently enrolled students)
• Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis booster (Tdap) – Not required if a Td booster dose given less than five years before seventh-grade entry is recorded on the DTaP/Td line
Children who are new enrollees in a Tennessee school in grades other than kindergarten or seventh grade
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella – Two doses of each, usually given together as MMR
• Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV) – Final dose on or after the 4th birthday
• Varicella – Two doses or history of disease
• Hepatitis B (HBV)
Children with medical or religious exemption to requirements
• Medical – Physician or health department authorized to indicate specific vaccines medically exempted (because of risk of harm) on the new form. Other vaccines remain required.
• Religious – Requires a signed statement by the parent or guardian that vaccination conflicts with their religious tenets or practices. If documentation of a health examination is required by the school, it must be noted by the healthcare provider on the immunization certificate. In that case, the provider should check the box that the parent or guardian has sought a religious exemption.
Full-time Tennessee college students
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella – Two doses of each, usually given together as MMR (if born on or after January 1, 1957, only)
• Varicella – Two doses or history of disease (if born on or after January 1, 1980, only)
• Hepatitis B (HBV) – Only for health science students expected to have patient contact (before patient contact begins)
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) – Only for new, first-year students in public colleges or universities who will be living in campus housing. This applies to students younger than 22, who have not had a dose of MCV since turning 16. Other students in this age group who have not had a dose of MCV since turning 16 should also consider the need for MCV, particularly if the student will be living in a dormitory.
Alternative proof of immunity for certain diseases – A positive serology (year of test documented) is acceptable as an alternative to immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B or varicella. For varicella, documentation of provider-diagnosed varicella (year) or provider-verified history of disease given by a parent or guardian (year) also is acceptable. By documenting a history of disease, the provider is asserting that he or she is convinced that the child has had chickenpox.
The CDC also recommends the following for preteens (ages 11–12) and older teens:
• Vaccination for meningococcal meningitis (first dose as a preteen, booster dose at age 16)
• Booster shot for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for all preteens (boys and girls), to reduce their risk of developing HPV-related cancers and other diseases later in life