Christian UC: Vaccines

Ohio Immunization Requirements

Updated January 1994

Authority: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. 3313.67, 671.

General Rule: The board of education of each city, exempted village, or local school district may make and enforce such rules to secure the imminization of, and to prevent the spread of communicable diseases among the pupils attending or eligible to attend the schools of the district, as in its opinion the safety and interest of the public require.' ORC 3313.67(A).

Except as otherwise provided, no pupil shall be permitted to remain in school for more than 14 days unless he presents satisfactory written evidence, that he has been immunized against the designated diseases, ORC 3313.67.1(A).

The general assembly under ORC 3313.67. I. has not preempted the field of requiring vaccination or immunization for school pupils but has only promulgated a minimum requirement while specifically authorizing local school districts to continue to make and enforce rules or regulations to secure vaccination or immitni7Ation of their pupils, a power which they already had. 1959 OAG No. 890.

Exceptions: ORC 3313.67.1(A)(1) to (4).

1) A pupil who has had natural rubeola or mumps, and presents a signed statement from his parent or physician to that effect, is not required to be immunized against the respective disease.

2) A pupil who presents a written statement of his parent or guardian in which they object to the immunization for good cause, including religious convictions, is not required to be immunized.

3) A child whose doctor certifies that such immunization is medically contraindicated is not required to be immunized. A school board cannot be required, because of written objection by his parent or guardian, to admit a child to school who has not been immunized. State ex rel. Mack v. Board of Education, 204 NE2d 86 (1963).

Reporting: ORC 3313.67(B), (C).

The board shall keep an immunization record for each pupil, available in writing to the pupil's parent or guardian upon request, which shall include:

1) Immunizations against the designated diseases.

2) Any tuberculin tests given.

3) Any other immunizations required by the board pursuant to ORC 3313.71.

Annually, by the 15th of October, the board shall report a summary, by school, of the immunization records of all initial entry pupils in the district to the director of health.

Designated Diseases: Mumps, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, rubeola, and rubella. ORC 3313.67.1(A).

Responsibility of Parents: A parent who sends his child to a public school and is willing to continue so to do, but the child is excluded for failure to comply with a rule of the board of education requiring vaccination, is not liable to conviction under the compulsory eduction act. State v. Turney, 12 CC(NS) 33, 21 CD 222 (1909).

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