Immunization
The board of education requires all students to meet the eligibility requirements for school admission established by the State and the board, including immunization and health assessments. The principal or designee shall maintain on file immunization and health assessment records for all students, and these records may be inspected by officials of the county or state health departments in accordance with state and federal law. Each school principal shall file required reports with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Instruction.
Requirements for Initial Entry
Within 30 calendar days of his or her first day of attendance in the school system*, each student must show evidence of age-appropriate vaccination in accordance with state law and regulation:
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis);
- poliomyelitis (polio);
- measles (rubeola);
- rubella (German measles);
- mumps;
- Haemophilus influenzae, type b (Hib);
- hepatitis B;
- varicella (chickenpox); and
- any other vaccine as may be required by law or regulation.
The current required vaccination schedule is available from the N.C. Immunization Branch online at http://www.immunize.nc.gov/.
Additional Requirements
All students entering seventh grade or who have reached age 12, whichever comes first, are required to receive the following:
- a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine), if they have not previously received it;
- and the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV).
All students entering 12th grade or who have reached age 17, whichever comes first, are required to receive the following:
- a booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
Certificate of Immunization
- Evidence of immunizations must be shown in the form of a certificate furnished by a licensed physician or by the health department. A student who received immunizations in a state other than North Carolina must present an official certificate that meets the immunizations requirements of G.S. 130A-154(b).
- Principals are required to refuse admittance to any child whose parent or guardian does not present a medical certification of proper immunizations within the allotted time. If, following approved medical practice, the administration of a vaccine requires more than 30 calendar days to complete, upon certification of this fact by a physician, additional days may be allowed in order to obtain the required immunizations.
- Exceptions to the immunization requirement shall be made only for religious reasons or for medical reasons approved by a physician pursuant to state law and regulation.