What immunizations your child needs and when in Georgia for back to school

ATLANTA — The state of Georgia requires by law that children entering kindergarten, sixth and seventh grade, and all students new to Georgia and students coming from any private school, must have certain immunizations before beginning school.

All students are then required to have a Georgia Form 3231 signed by a licensed health-care provider or the county health department.

[SPECIAL SECTION: Channel 2′s complete guide for back to school in north Georgia]

Kindergarten (Requirements for K-6)

• Four (4+) DTaP (# of Doses depends upon age given)
• Four (4+) IPV (# of Doses depends upon age given)
• Three (3) Hepatitis B
• Two (2) doses of Measles vaccine, Two (2) doses of Mumps vaccine, and One (1) dose of Rubella vaccine OR Two (2) doses of the combined MMR [OR Documented History of disease or Serology]
• Two (2) Hepatitis A [Hepatitis A (Required if born on or after 01/01/2006]
• Two (2) doses of Varicella vaccine [OR Documented History of disease or Serology]

7th Grade and Higher Immunization Requirements

Effective July 1, 2014, all children born on or after January 1, 2002 who are entering 7th grade, and new entrants to Georgia schools in grades 8-12 will be required to have Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis) and Meningoccocal Conjugate (MCV4) vaccines before entering school.

• NEW: One (1) Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4)
• NEW: One (1) Tdap
• Four (4+) DTaP (# of Doses depends upon age given)
• Four (4+) IPV (# of Doses depends upon age given)
• Three (3) Hepatitis B
• Two (2) doses of Measles vaccine, Two (2) doses of Mumps vaccine, and One (1) dose of Rubella vaccine OR Two (2) doses of the combined MMR [OR Documented History of disease or Serology]
• Two (2) Hepatitis A [Hepatitis A (Required if born on or after 01/01/2006]
• Two (2) doses of Varicella vaccine [OR Documented History of disease or Serology]

11th Grade Immunization Requirements

Before starting the 2021-2022 school year, all students entering or transferring into 11th grade will need proof of a meningococcal booster shot (MCV4), unless their first dose was received on or after their 16th birthday.

Note that this booster vaccine is required in addition to the MCV4 vaccine that was required for your child prior to his or her beginning 7th grade.

Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness that affects the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can cause shock, coma, and death within hours of the first symptoms.

To help protect your children and others from meningitis, Georgia law requires students be vaccinated against this disease, unless the child has an exemption.

Additional Requirements

• Certificates must be signed by a physician licensed in GA or public health official. A stamp of a Physician’s signature is permissible when cosigned by an office staff member.
• Certificates must have a printed typed or stamped name and address of the physician, health department or Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS) official issuing the certificate.
• Certificates must have a complete date of issue with the month, day and year.

[State of Georgia Immunization requirements: Recommended Immunization Schedule]

Exemptions

In the state of Georgia, if there is a religious objection to the vaccination of a child, a completed affidavit on Form 2208 is required. After completion of the affidavit, the parent or legal guardian must have the form filed with the school or childcare facility the child will be attending as legal documentation of exemption from the required immunizations mentioned above.

Medical Waivers/Exemptions are a part of Georgia Form 3231 and are reviewed annually.

Parents worry about schools dropping mask requirements as Delta variant takes hold The American Academy of Pediatrics said it made its recommendation due to the low vaccination rates among children.

Cox Media Group