Christian UC: Vaccines

Alabama Immunization Requirements

Updated 2002

Rules of the State Board of Health
Bureau of Preventive Health Services
Chapter 420-6-1
Immunization of School Children

TABLE OF CONTENTS
420-6-1-.01 Authority
420-6-1-.02 General Provisions
420-6-1-.03 Immunization Schedule

Authority
This regulation is promulgated by the State Health Officer and approved by the State Board of Health on October 17, 1979, pursuant to Code of Alabama, 1975, Section 16-30-5.

Authority: Code of Alabama, 1975, Section 16-30-5, et. seq.
Author: Donald E. Williamson, M.D.
History: October 1, 1982

420-6-1-.02 General Provisions

(1) The board of education and the governing authority of each private school shall require each pupil, prior to entering kindergarten or first grade or prior to re-entering the higher grades of the schools of Alabama, to present a certificate of immunization for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, and mumps. (Code of Alabama, 1975, Section 16-30-4.) Pupils who have passed their seventh birthday are exempt from a requirement for pertussis immunization.

(2) Such certificate shall be on the form approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health and shall be made a part of the pupil’s school record. When a student leaves a school upon graduation, transfer, relocation or otherwise; the school may return the original certificate to the student’s parents/guardians and retain a legible copy in the school record.

(3) A written objection from the parent or guardian of a student based on religious tenets and practices shall be submitted in person by the parent or guardian to the County Health Department for issuance of a Certificate of Religious Exemption from the required immunizations or testing. A licensed physician can provide individual exemption from the required immunizations or testing on a Certificate of Medical Exemption. The Certificate of Religious Exemption and the Certificate of Medical
Exemption will be on forms approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health and will be accepted in lieu of the Certificate of Immunization.

Authority: Code of Alabama, 1975, Section 16-30-5, et. seq.
Author: Donald E. Williamson, M.D.; Charles H. Woernle, M.D., M.P.H.
History: October 1, 1982; Amendment June 11, 1993; Amended: Filed
1/17/97, Effective 2/21/97.

420-6-1-.03 Immunization Schedule

(1) Except as provided in Section 420-6-1-.02 and in the Code of Alabama, 1975, Section 16-30-5, each pupil, prior to entering Alabama school grade kindergarten through twelfth grade shall receive:
(a) at a minimum four (4) doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccination. The last dose must be administered after the child’s fourth birthday. Booster doses of tetanus-diphtheria toxoid vaccine must be given 5-10 years after the preschool booster.
(b) at least three (3) doses of polio vaccine with the last dose administered after the pupil’s fourth birthday.
(c) immunization against mumps and rubella. This dose shall be administered at 12 months of age or later.
(d) two (2) doses of measles-containing vaccine. The first dose shall be
administered at 12 months of age or later and the second dose shall be administered at least 30 days later.
(e) varicella vaccine subject to the following schedule unless there is documentation of a positive varicella titer or a date of varicella disease.

This requirement is effective for students entering kindergarten beginning fall of 2001 and will escalate by one successive grade each year for the following 12 years to include all grades, kindergarten through twelfth,
beginning fall of 2013:

(i) one dose of varicella vaccine at 12 months of age or older for persons less than 13 years of age;
(ii) two doses of varicella vaccine separated by at least 28 days for persons 13 years of age or older beginning the vaccination series.

Authority: Code of Alabama, 1975, Section 16-30-5, et. seq
Author: Donald E. Williamson, M.D.
History: Filed May 19. 1989; Amended: Filed July 20, 1990; December 19, 1990. Emergency Amendment Filed: March 20, 1992. Permanent Amendment Filed: July 22, 1992.
Amended: Filed 1/17/97, Effective 2/21/97.
Amended: Filed 7/19/2000, Effective 9/3/2000.

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