Immunization Requirements
Florida’s school immunization law (section 1003.22, Florida Statutes) and SDLC policy (5320, Board Policy) requires all students in public or nonpublic schools in Kindergarten – 12th grade and public pre-school, including foreign exchange students to have documentation of proper immunization or exemption to attend school.
Mandatory exclusion from school is required by law until acceptable immunization documentation (as listed below) are presented.
Each child must provide a Florida Certification of Immunization, DH680 documenting that the student has met the following minimum state requirements:
- Four to Five doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTP)
- Three to five doses of the polio vaccine
- Two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR)
- Three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine
- Two doses of varicella vaccine
- Seventh Grade or above: In addition to all other compulsory school immunizations, children entering, attending, or transferring are required to complete one dose of the tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (Tdap)
- 24-25 School Year Entry Requirements
Form DH 680 (Certification of Immunization) and form DH 681 (Religious Exemption) are the only acceptable immunization certifications.
If your student is in the process of completing any necessary immunizations, a medical provider must grant a Temporary Medical Exemption (TME), documented on Form DH 680.
If your student is unable to be fully immunized due to a medical condition, a medical provider must document a Permanent Medical Exemption on Form DH 680.
The County Health Department may issue a religious exemption Form DH 681 if you, as a parent/guardian, or your student have a religious tenet or practice that prohibits your student from receiving the required immunizations.
School Entry Health Examination
Students in pre-kindergarten through 12 grade who are making their initial entry into a Florida school must present a record of a physical examination completed within the past 12 months. The school entry health exam must be completed by a health care provider licensed to perform a physical examination and should be taken to the child's school upon enrollment. Although a specific form is not required, it is recommended that Florida's standardized School Entry Health Exam form (DH3040-CHP-07/2013) be used to document the completion of a physical examination.
For students transferring to a Florida school, a comparable form from another state would also be acceptable if performed by a healthcare provider licensed to perform physical exams and completed within one year before enrollment.
Temporary Exemptions
An authorized school official (Student Enrollment Specialist) may issue temporary exemptions for immunizations and/or school health entry examinations for a period of time not to exceed 30 days. These temporary exemptions may only be issued for the following situations:
- Interstate Transfer: a child who transfers into a Florida school from another state
- Intrastate Transfer: a child who transfers into a new county within the state of Florida to attend class
- Homelessness: a homeless child, as defined in section 228.041, Florida Statutes
- Juvenile Justice: a child who enters the juvenile justice system
- Military: a military child as defined in 1000.36, Florida Statutes
If a student does not have the state mandated immunizations and school health entry examination at the time of enrollment and they do not meet one of the criteria listed above for a temporary exemption, their enrollment must be denied until they are able to provide the required documentation.
Need health insurance for your child? Apply online at www.floridakidcare.org or call 239-343-5821 for assistance.
For more information, Call (850) 245-4342 or visit www.ImmunizeFlorida.org.