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Immunization Requirements for 2015
New law (SB277) for 2016 and future years
Personal Beliefs Exemptions Ending
Medical Exemptions
Conditional Admission
Students Without Classroom-Based Instruction
Other Topics
1. In 2015 and future years, which vaccines are required to enter child care or school in California?
2. In the summer or fall of 2015, are there any changes to the immunization requirements for children entering child care or school?
No.
In 2015 and future years each immunization requirement may be fulfilled by any of the following:
In 2015 but not future years:
3. In 2016, what are the changes to the immunization requirements for children entering child care or school?
Starting January 1, 2016:
4. When does the law take effect?
January 1, 2016.
5. Where can I review the new law?
The language of Senate Bill 277 (Pan, 2015) is available at:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB277.
6. Which facilities are affected by the new law in 2016 and future years?
Whether public or private, all California schools and child-care facilities, including child-care centers, day nurseries, nursery schools, family day care homes, and development centers, are subject to new and existing laws in California.
7. In the new law on immunization requirements, are religious beliefs distinguished from other personal beliefs?
No distinction is made between exemptions based on religious beliefs and other personal beliefs. Starting in 2016, exemptions for religious or other personal beliefs will no longer be an option for the vaccines that are currently required for entry into school or child care in California.
8. Will personal beliefs exemptions filed during or after 2016 be valid?
No. Starting in 2016, personal beliefs exemptions will no longer be an option for the vaccines that are currently required for entry into school or child care in California.
9. Will personal beliefs exemptions, including those based on religious beliefs, filed in California before 2016 remain valid in later years?
Personal beliefs exemptions (PBEs) filed at a school or child-care facility before January 1, 2016 will remain valid until the student enrolls in the next grade span, typically at kindergarten (or transitional kindergarten) or 7th grade.
A PBE filed before 2016 at:
PBEs filed in 2015 are only valid when signed by both an authorized health care practitioner and a parent/guardian no more than 6 months prior to first entry into school or child care or a new grade span (if the "religious beliefs" box was checked, then a practitioner signature was not required). Therefore, PBEs filed in 2015 are invalid for children first entering child care or school in California in the fall of 2016 or later years.
10. Is a personal beliefs exemption still valid if a child transfers between child-care facilities in California after 2015?
Yes, a personal beliefs exemption filed with a child-care facility before January 1, 2016 is valid until entry into the next grade span (transitional kindergarten through 6th grade). Personal beliefs exemptions may be transferred between child-care facilities in California.
However, if the personal belief exemption documentation is no longer available, children must meet immunization requirements (see question #1) to attend the new child-care facility.
11. Is a personal beliefs exemption still valid if a student transfers between schools in California after 2015?
Yes, a personal beliefs exemption filed with a school before January 1, 2016 is valid until entry into the next grade span (7th through 12th grade). Personal beliefs exemptions may be transferred between schools in California, both within and across school districts.
However, if the personal beliefs exemption documentation is no longer available, students must meet immunization requirements (see question #1) or be enrolled in an independent study program and do not receive classroom-based instruction or in a home-based private school (see question #3).
12. Is a personal beliefs exemption from another state or country valid if a student transfers to a California school in 2016 or future years?
13. What will happen in future years when children with a prior personal beliefs exemption enter their next grade span in primary or secondary school (typically kindergarten or 7th grade)?
Children with a valid personal beliefs exemption filed before 2016 who enter a new grade span will have to meet all age-appropriate immunization requirements for admission into primary or secondary school (K-12th grade) (see www.shotsforschool.org/k-12/) or be enrolled in an independent study program and do not receive classroom-based instruction or in a home-based private school (see question #3). Additional requirements for age and grade will need to be met before entering 7th grade.
Therefore, in order to begin 7th grade, children who had a valid personal beliefs exemption filed before 2016 upon entry between kindergarten and 6th grade need to meet the requirements listed for children 7-17 years old as well as requirements for 7th grade listed at www.shotsforschool.org/k-12/. They will need to provide documentation of having received the following doses of vaccines:
14. What are the requirements for students entering transitional kindergarten?
Students entering transitional kindergarten must meet the same immunization requirements as students entering kindergarten. A student who has met the immunization requirements for transitional kindergarten typically has met the requirements for the following year of kindergarten.
15. My child was admitted to transitional kindergarten in 2015 with a valid personal beliefs exemption to one of the required vaccines. How long may her exemption remain valid?
A personal beliefs exemption filed in 2015 at entry into transitional kindergarten may remain valid until the completion of 6th grade.
16. What if additional vaccines become required for child care or school?
Personal beliefs exemptions will be allowed for any new immunization requirement initiated by the California Department of Public Health.
17. What’s required for a medical exemption to a required immunization?
A parent or guardian must submit a written statement from a licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.) which states:
18. May other practitioners, besides licensed physicians (M.D.s and D.O.s), provide a medical exemption to a required immunization?
No. Only a licensed Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) may provide a medical exemption.
In contrast, the other categories of licensed or credentialed practitioners in California previously authorized through 2015 to sign requests for personal beliefs exemptions (e.g., Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, Naturopathic Doctor, or School Nurse) may not provide medical exemptions.
19. Has the State of California issued a standardized form for medical exemptions?
No, but the documentation must include the elements described in question 17.
20. Are licensed physicians required to assist in requests for medical exemptions?
A licensed physician may provide a medical exemption but is not required to do so. Parents or guardians seeking medical exemptions should check with physicians in advance to clarify their policies on medical exemptions.
21. What is conditional admission?
Children behind on their required immunizations may be admitted conditionally, if they are not currently due for any doses or have a temporary medical exemption. See http://www.shotsforschool.org/laws/conditional-admission/ for further information.
22. What are the requirements for students entering a home-based private school or independent study program and do not receive classroom-based instruction?
Students entering:
are subject to immunization requirements for entry during 2015 but not in 2016 or future years. Parents or guardians must provide records to the schools of any required immunizations received by these students.
23. Will schools still need to record immunization information and report on the immunization status of all students, including students who are exempt from entry requirements in 2016 and future years?
Yes, schools will still need to:
24. Are students who are homeless or in foster care subject to the immunization requirements?
Yes. However, a student who is homeless or in foster care, when transferring into a new school, may be admitted immediately if the student arrives without immunization records. Schools should utilize their resources to make sure these students have received all required immunizations as soon as possible.
For information on previous requirements for PBEs, click here.
These FAQs were last updated on 12/6/2016 (this included edits to question 13). This content is considered current until any future update is made.