Immunization Changes

2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 school years

 

Note from the school nurse:

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

The way schools collect immunization records and comply with immunization rules has changed since 2019. Effective August 1, 2020, these three major changes are now in effect:

  • All new immunization records from students need to be medically verified.

  • The definition of “conditional status” has been clarified.

  • The Tdap vaccine requirement for 6th graders has been changed to a 7th grade requirement.

Details of the changes and definitions can be found at: https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/Immunization/SchoolandChildCare/RuleChanges. These changes were approved by the Washington State Board of Health in 2019.

NEW STUDENTS/TRANSFER STUDENTS

All students new to the school on or after August 1, 2020, will need to provide medically verified immunization records on or before the student’s first day of attendance. This means you will need to provide one of the following:

  • A completed Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) signed by a health care provider. Find the CIS form by visiting https://www.doh.wa.gov/SCCI and clicking on “Certificate of Immunization Status.”

  • A CIS filled out by the parent/guardian with medical records attached.

  • A CIS printed by a health care provider or school from the Washington State Immunization Information System.

  • A CIS printed from MyIR which is a free Department of Health online tool that allows families to view and print their official immunization records themselves. Go to https://wa.myir.net/register to begin the sign-up process.

  • A completed Certificate of Exemption form.

UP-TO-DATE STUDENTS 

Students who are up to date with vaccine requirements do not need to turn in any additional immunization paperwork.

CONDITIONAL STATUS STUDENTS

Students actively catching up on immunizations must turn in a CIS with a parent or guardian signature acknowledging the student is in conditional status. 

Students must be up to date on their immunizations, having received all eligible doses before they can start school. When the next catch-up dose is due, the parent or guardian will need to turn in medically verified records within 30 days of the due date showing that the student has received the catch-up dose or doses.  Students without immunization paperwork on the first day of school should not start school until the required paperwork is turned in. These students are not considered in conditional status.  Please contact your school leadership regarding registration of these students. 

More information is available in the Conditional Status FAQ (PDF).