• By Yalonda Galloway
• Posted Tuesday, June 9, 2015

New Immunization Laws for 2015-2016 School Year

New Immunizations Laws will affect children entering Kindergarten and 7th grade for the 2015-2016 school year. Children who start Kindergarten or 7th grade on or after July 1, 2015 will be required to have specific vaccines to protect them from serious diseases.

Kindergartners will now be required to have:

• two doses of varicella (chicken pox) vaccine if they do not have a history of disease documented by a health care provider;
• and the 4th dose of polio vaccine must be given after 4 years of age and before entering school for the first time.
• All kindergartners are required to have a physical exam signed by their physician.

Children who start 7th grade on or after July 1, 2015 will be required to have vaccines as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Students will be required to have:

• one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis);
• and one dose of meningococcal vaccines if they have not previously received these vaccines.

Thanks to the success of vaccines we don’t see these diseases very often; however they do still exist and can cause serious illness, disabilities and even death. Don’t let your child go unprotected. Vaccines are safe and effective. The most common side effects are pain and swelling at the site where the shot was given. Some people may experience a headache and fever. Serious reactions to vaccines are very rare.

Talk with your child’s health care provider or the local health department about vaccines they may need to be protected and for school entry. This is a great chance to get your child to the doctor for a yearly health care visit. Your child will have to provide proof of vaccination on the first day of school. Please remember to bring your child’s shot record for school entry. You can get your child’s shot record from his/her doctor or the local health department.

For more information please contact the Forsyth County Health Department Immunization Program Manager at 336-703-3314.

To learn more about these vaccines and the diseases they prevent visit the CDC website at or the North Carolina Immunization Branch website.