What vaccines are required for school in North Carolina?

The state Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging families to make sure their students are vaccinated before they return to school in late August.

North Carolina law requires all children in the state to receive certain immunizations. Records are checked when children enter school or child care, so ask your pediatrician for a copy of your child's vaccine record next time you visit the doctor.

What vaccines are required for school in North Carolina?

You can find what vaccines are required for school in North Carolina online or a list below:

Kindergarten

• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis "whooping cough" - 5 doses
• Polio/IPV - 4 doses
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) - 2 doses
• Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type B (meningitis or brain infection) - 3-4 doses
• Hep B: Hepatitis B (liver infection) - 3 doses
• Varicella (chickenpox) - 2 doses
• PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate (meningitis, or brain infection, and pneumonia and blood infections) - 4 doses

Recommended vaccines: Hepatitis A (liver infection) and seasonal flu vaccine

7th grade

Students entering 7th grade must have had all of the vaccines required for kindergarten entry and:

• MenACWY: Meningococcal conjugate (meningitis or brain infection) - 1 dose
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis or whooping cough) - Booster required

Recommended vaccines: HPV (human papillomavirus) and seasonal flu vaccine

12th grade

Students entering 12th grade must have had all of the vaccines required for kindergarten and 7th grade entry and:

• MenACWY: Meningococcal conjugate (meningitis or brain infection) - 1 dose

Recommended vaccines: HPV (human papillomavirus) and seasonal flu vaccine

What about the COVID-19 vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended but not required for children 6 months and older.

"You can use any health care visit, including for sports or camp physicals, school health assessments, checkups and sick visits to receive vaccines,” said Dr. Christoph Diasio from the N.C. Pediatric Society. “Talk with your pediatrician or health care professional to make sure your kids are protected against vaccine preventable diseases.”

Find a free vaccine

Cost is not a reason to skip vaccines. The state's Vaccines for Children program means vaccines are free for young people through 19 years of age.

According to the state, vaccine-preventable diseases like chicken pox, meningitis, measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and others are still seen in schools. Keeping children up-to-date on vaccines is the best way to prevent spread.