Christian UC: Vaccines

Illinois Immunization Requirements

Authority: the School Code, Ill. Ann. Stat. ch. 122 para. 27-8.1 (Smith-Hurd). IAS 111 1/2 & 22.11 IAS 122 && 26-1 and 26-10.

General Rule: "In compliance with rules and regulations which the Department of Public Health shall promulgate, and except as hereinafter provided, all children in Illinois shall have a health examination as follows: Within one year prior to entering Kindergarten or the first grade of any public, private or parochial school; prior to entrance into any public, private or parochial nursery school; and, irrespective of grade, immediately prior or upon entrance into any public, private or parochial school, or nursery school, each child shall present proof of having been examined in accordance with this Section and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder." IAS 122 & 27-8.1(1).

"Every child shall, at or about the same time as he receives a health examination as required by subsection (1) of this Section, present to the local school, proof of having received such immunizations against preventable communicable diseases as the Department of Public Health shall require by rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Section and "An Act in relation to the prevention of certain communicable diseases", approved July 5, 1967, as amended" IAS 122 & 27-8.1(3).

"It is declared to be the public policy of this State that all children shall be protected, as soon after birth as medically indicated, by the appropriate vaccines and immunizing procedures to prevent communicable diseases which are or which may in the future become preventable by immunization." IAS 111 1/2 & 22.11.

Exceptions: IAS 122 & 27-8.1(8).

1) "Children whose parents or legal guardians object to health examinations or any part thereof, or to immunizations, on religious grounds shall not be required to submit their children or wards to health examinations or immunizations if such parents or legal guardians present to the appropriate local school authority a signed statement of objection, detailing the grounds for such objection."

2) "If the physical condition of the child is such that any one or more of the immunizing agents should not be administered, the examining physician responsible for the performance of the health examination shall endorse such fact upon the health examination form."

Provisional: "If a child does not submit proof of having had either the health examination or the immunization as required, then the child shall be examined or receive the immunization, as the case may be, and present proof by October 15 of the current school year; provided, if for medical reasons one or more of the required immunizations must be given after October 15 of the current school year, then the child shall present, by October 15, a schedule for the administration of the immunizations and a statement of the medical reasons causing the delay. If a child does not comply by October 15 of the current school year with the requirements of this subsection, then the local school authority shall exclude that child from school until such time as the child presents proof of having had the health examination as required, and presents proof of having received those required immunizations which are medically possible to receive immediately.

During a child's exclusion from school for noncompliance with this subsection, the child's parents or legal guardian shall be considered in violations of Section 26-1 and subject to any penalty imposed by Section 26-10. IAS 122 & 27-8.1(5)

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