Immunizations
Every student must be fully immunized against certain diseases or must present a certificate or statement that, for medical reasons or reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, the student will not be immunized. For exemptions based on reasons of conscience, only official forms issued by the Texas Department of State Health, Immunization Branch, can be honored by the district.
The school nurse can provide information on age-appropriate doses or on an acceptable physician-validated history of illness required by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Proof of immunization may be established by personal records from a licensed physician or public health clinic with a signature or rubber-stamp validation.
View the Texas Department of State Health Services Immunization Requirements
For more information regarding immunizations, refer to the Texas Department of State Health Services website.
Exemptions for Immunizations
Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §97.62 describes the conditions under which individuals can seek exemptions from Texas immunization requirements. Exclusions from compliance are allowable on an individual basis for medical contraindications, active duty with the armed forces of the United States, and reasons of conscience, including a religious belief.
The law allows
- Physicians to write a statement stating that the vaccine(s) required would be medically harmful or injurious to the health and well-being of the child
- Parents/guardians to choose an exemption from immunization requirements for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief.
The law does not allow parents/guardians to elect an exemption simply because of inconvenience (a record is lost or incomplete and it is too much trouble to go to a physician or clinic to correct the problem).
For children needing medical exemptions, a written statement by the physician should be submitted to the school. For more information about school vaccine exemptions, please visit School Immunizations Exemption Information on the Texas Department of State Health Services website.