Every state requires some vaccines for K-12 public school students to protect against communicable diseases. Vaccines for diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP vaccine/Tdap booster), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, and chickenpox (varicella) are required nationwide. Forty-seven states also require vaccinations for private school students, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some states also require vaccinations to prevent other diseases such as flu or human papillomavirus (HPV).
States also determine the exemption criteria for students to attend school without required vaccinations. The CDC provides a state-level breakdown of the common types of exemptions, such as medical, religious, and philosophical reasons, on its website.
In 2021, COVID vaccines became available for school children, Vaccines were cleared for use for kids 12-17 in May 2021, and for children 5-11 in November 2021.
