Dear FSD Parents/Guardians:

Whenever children are brought into group settings, there is a potential for the spread of infectious diseases. To prevent some of the most serious infections, the Idaho School Immunization Law requires that children receive a series of immunizations before entry to schools. In addition, the Idaho School Immunization Law requires schools to enforce immunization requirements, to maintain immunization records of all children enrolled, and to submit annual reports to the Idaho Immunization Program, Department of Health and Welfare.

Changes to the Immunization Requirements for Idaho School Children (IDAPA 16.02.15) were approved by the Idaho State Legislature and became effective April 7, 2011. The key changes to the school immunization rules are summarized below

  1. Minimum Immunization Requirements for School Entry: As of April 7, 2011, to enroll in or attend a public, private, or parochial school in Idaho, a child born after September 1, 2005 must receive the following immunizations: five doses of DTaP, four Polio, two MMR, three Hepatitis B, two Hepatitis A, and two Varicella. There are no changes to the minimum immunization requirements for school entry for children born before September 1, 2005.
  2. 7th Grade Requirement: Effective with the 2011-2012 school year, in addition to the school entry requirements, a child must receive the following immunizations prior to admission into the seventh grade: one dose of Tdap booster, and one dose of Meningococcal.
  3. Conditional Admittance: The conditional admittance process which allows students to attend school while in the process of receiving required immunizations has been clarified to save school staff time following up on conditionally admitted students.
  4. Exemptions: The ability of a parent to claim an exemption from immunization requirements has NOT changed. However, to improve the ability of schools to quickly identify exempt students in the event of a disease outbreak, the exemption form has been standardized. Effective April 7, 2011, all exemptions claimed must be documented on the form provided by the Idaho Immunization Program, Department of Health and Welfare.
  5. Immunization Records: To make it easier for parents to provide, and school authorities to accept, immunization records, the following is now considered valid proof of immunization: electronic health records, immunization registry documents (IRIS), and immunization records stamped or signed by medical clinics or licensed healthcare professionals.

We salute Idaho schools for their conscientious work to ensure that Idaho children are protected from preventable childhood diseases within school settings. For more information regarding changes to Idaho’s school immunization requirements, please visit the Idaho Immunization Program’s website at:

Thank you,

Carmela Kerns Gupta, MPH

School and Childcare Immunization Coordinator

Idaho Immunization Program | Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare