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Immunization Requirements

State of Connecticut Department of Public Health

Immunization Requirements for Enrolled Students in Connecticut Schools for the 2024-2025 School Year (view PDF version here)

Preschool

  • Hep B: 3 doses, last one on or after 24 weeks of age 
  • DTaP: 4 doses (by 18 months for programs with children 18 months of age)
  • Polio: 3 doses (by 18 months for programs with children 18 months of age) 
  • MMR: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday 
  • Varicella: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday or verification of disease 
  • Hepatitis A: 2 doses given six calendar months apart, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday 
  • Hib: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday 
  • Pneumococcal: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday 
  • Influenza: 1 dose administered each year between August 1st - December 31st (2 doses separated by at least 28 days required for those receiving flu for the first time)

Kindergarten

  • Hep B: 3 doses, last dose on or after 24 weeks of age 
  • DTaP: At least 4 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday
  • Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday
  • MMR: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday 
  • Varicella: 2 doses separated by at least 3 months - 1st dose on or after 1st birthday or after verification of disease; 28 days between doses is acceptable if the doses have already been administered
  • Hepatitis A: 2 doses given six calendar months apart; 1st dose on or after 1st birthday 
  • Hib: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday for children less than 5 years old 
  • Pneumococcal: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday for children less than 5 years old 

Grades 1-6

  • Hep B: 3 doses, last dose on or after 24 weeks of age
  • DTaP/Td: At least 4 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday. Students who start the series at age 7 or older only need a total of 3 doses.
  • Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday
  • MMR: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday
  • Varicella: 2 doses separated by at least 3 months-1st dose on or after 1st birthday; or verification of disease. 28 days between doses is acceptable if the doses have already been administered.
  • Hepatitis A: 2 doses given six calendar months apart, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday

Grades 7-12

  • Hep B: 3 doses, last dose on or after 24 weeks of age 
  • Tdap/Td: 1 dose for students who have completed their preliminary DTaP series. Students who start the series at age 7 or older only need 3 doses tetanus-diphtheria containing vaccine, one of which must be Tdap
  • Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday 
  • MMR: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday 
  • Varicella: 2 doses separated by at least 3 months - 1st dose on or after 1st birthday; or after verification of disease. 28 days between doses is acceptable if  the doses have already been administered. 
  • Hepatitis A: 2 doses given six calendar months apart; 1st dose on or after 1st dose 
  • Meningococcal: 1 dose

Notes:

  • DTaP vaccine is not administered on or after the 7th birthday.
  • Tdap can be given in lieu of Td vaccine for children 7 years and older unless contraindicated. 
  • Hib is NOT required once a student turns 5 years of age. 
  • Pneumococcal Conjugate is NOT required once a student turns 5 years of age. 
  • Hep A requirement for school year 2023-24 applies to all Pre-K through 11th Graders born 1/1/07 or later.
  • Hep B requirement for school year 2023-24 applies to all students in grades K-12. Spacing intervals for a valid Hep B series: at least 4 weeks between doses 1 and 2; 8 weeks between doses 2 and 3; at least 16 weeks between doses 1 and 3; dose 3 should not be given before 24 weeks of age.
  • Second MMR for school year 2023-24 applies to all students in grades K-12.
  • Meningococcal Conjugate requirement for school year 2023-24 applies to all students in grades 7-12
  • Tdap requirement for school year 2023-24 applies to all students in grades 7-12
  • If two live virus vaccines (MMR, Varicella, MMRV, Intra-nasal Influenza) are not administered on the same day, they must be separated by at least 28 days (there is no 4 day grace period for live virus vaccines). If they are not separated by at least 28 days, the vaccine administered second must be repeated.
  • Lab confirmation of immunity is only acceptable for Hep A, Hep B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella.
  • Verification of varicella disease: Confirmation in writing by a MD, PA, or APRN that the child has a previous history of the disease, based on family or medical history.
  • For the full legal requirements for school entry visit Immunization Laws and Regulations 
  • If you are unsure if a child is in compliance, please call the Immunization Program at (860) 509-7929.

New Entrant Definition:

New entrants are any students who are new to the school district, including all preschoolers and all students coming in from Connecticut private, parochial and charter schools located in the same or another community. All pre-schoolers, as well as all students entering kindergarten, including those repeating kindergarten, and those moving from any public or private pre-school program, even in the same school district, are considered new entrants. The one exception is students returning from private approved special education placements–they are not considered new entrants.

Vaccines supplied by the State of Connecticut are listed here, along with brand names. 

smiling child getting a vaccine