Immunizations

Washington State's School Immunization Law RCW 28A.210.080 requires documentation of immunization at the time of school registration. This applies to any student entering school (preschool-grade 12), attending in-person or on-line. Children not compliant with state vaccine requirements may be excluded from school.

Immunization Requirements for School Attendance

These requirements follow the national CDC approved Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Immunization Schedule with requirements specified by grade level. To find the doses required, look at the row that includes the student's grade and the column for the required vaccine. For example, a student entering kindergarten needs two doses of MMR vaccine. The requirements and rules vary depending on the student's grade.

School Immunization Requirement Chart 2023-2024 (PDF)

School Immunization Requirement Chart 2022-2023 (PDF)

Documentation Requirements

Before a child may attend a school or child care center, a parent or guardian must provide proof of the required immunizations or immunity using a department-approved Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) form. All immunization records turned in to schools or child care centers are required by state law to be medically verified. A medically verified Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) form is a:

CIS printed by a health care provider or school from the Washington State Immunization Information System. This is medically verified by the Immunization Information System.
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. This is medically verified by the Immunization Information System.
A Hardcopy CIS completed by hand. This must be verified with a health care provider signature, or must have medical vaccination records attached so it can be verified for accuracy by school or child care staff.
A document from another US state or territory immunization registry

Where to Get Immunizations

Conditional Status

Children can enter and stay in school or child care in conditional status if they are catching up on the vaccines required to document immunity. Conditional status allows a child to attend school or child care while waiting for their next vaccine dose according to the national immunization catch-up schedule. When the child’s next vaccine dose comes due, they have 30 calendar days to turn in documentation showing their vaccination. If a child is catching up on multiple vaccines, conditional status continues in a similar manner until all of the vaccines needed to document full immunity are completed.

Before attending in conditional status, a child must have at least the first dose of the vaccine series. Additionally, the child can’t be currently due for any additional doses.

Students who are making progress toward completing their immunization requirements will be granted conditional status for entry into school or childcare.

Exemptions

A child may be exempted from the legal requirement of having any or all of the required doses of vaccines under exceptional circumstances:personal/philosophical, religious, medical or religious membership.

For a copy of a Certification of Exemption form, click here. They are also available upon requrest from the school nurse or school office, and must be completed with all of the required documentation and signatures.

Students who have been exempted are susceptible to the disease(s) for which they did not receive adequate vaccine(s). Therefore, in the event of a disease outbreak, they may be excluded from school attendance for the duration of the outbreak.

Required Notifications

Immunization Information

WA State Department of Health - School and Childcare