School Immunizations

Why Immunize

Although some diseases (measles and mumps) are becoming very rare in the U.S., they are becoming rare largely because we have been vaccinating against them.  It is important to keep immunizing against these diseases because they are still seen in parts of the world.  If we take away the protection given by vaccines, more people will become infected and spread the disease to others.  Before you know it, diseases that are almost unknown could stage a comeback.  We must vaccinate not only to protect our children, but to protect our grandchildren and the future population.  Vaccines are one of the best ways to put an end to the serious effects of certain diseases.

What vaccines does my child need to start school?

Kindergarten and Children New to a School District`

Per Nevada state law, unless excused because of a religious belief or medical condition, a child may not be enrolled in a public, private, or charter school within Nevada until the child has been vaccinated or is in the process of being vaccinated against the following diseases:

• Diptheria
• Tetanus
• Pertussis
• Poliomyelitis
• Rubella
• Measles
• Mumps
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella
• Neisseria Meningitides

New Requirements for 7th Grade Enrollment

1. A child enrolling in seventh (7th) grade in a Nevada public or private school after June 30th, 2017 must receive an immunization against Neisseria meningitidis (meningitis) in the form of a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4).  The child must receive at least one dose of MCV4 on or after age 10 years.
2. This new requirement does not apply to students enrolled in a Nevada public or private school before July 1st, 2009.

New Requirement for University Freshmen

1. A student enrolled as a freshman of a Nevada University, who is less than 23 years of age upon enrollment, may not attend university after September 1, 2017 without proof of immunity to Neisseria meningitidis (meningitis).  Vaccination with at least one dose of a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) on or after age 16 years will satisfy this requirement.

Conditional Enrollment

A child may enter school conditionally if the parent or guardian submits a certificate from a physician or local health officer that the child is receiving the required immunizations.  If a certificate from the physician or local health officer showing that the child has been fully immunized is not submitted to the appropriate school officers within 90 school days, or its equivalent in a school district operating under an alternative schedule authorized pursuant to NRS 388.090, after the child was conditionally admitted, the child must be excluded from school and may not be readmitted until the requirements for immunization have been met.  A child who is excluded from school pursuant to this section is a neglected child for the purposes of NRS 432.0999 to 432.130, inclusive, and chapter 432B of NRS.

Medical Exemptions

If the medical condition of a child will not permit him to be immunized to the extent required by NRS 392.435 and a written statement of this fact is signed by a licensed physician and by the parents or guardian of the child, the board of trustees of the school district of governing body of the charter school in which the child has been accepted for enrollment shall exempt the child from all or part of the provisions of NRS 392.435, as the case may be, for enrollment purposes.

Religious Exemption

A public, private or charter school shall not refuse to enroll a child as a pupil because the child has not be immunized pursuant to NRS 392.435 if the parents or guardian of the child has submitted to the board of trustees of the school district or governing body of a charter school in which the child has been accepted for enrollment a written statement indicating that their religious belief prohibits immunization of such child or ward.

For More Information

To view copies of Technical Bulletins and for more information, visit our state coalition partner, Immunize Nevada.

• Childcare, School and University Requirements

Check Your School

School with low vaccination rates are at increased risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.  Use the link below to find your child's school and the percentage of how many children have the required vaccines.

• Check Your Childcare or School

Child & Adolescent Vaccine Quiz

Take the childhood vaccine quiz below to create a personalized list of recommended vaccines for your child based on his or her health history.  Once printed, make an appointment with your child's health care provider to review the results.

• Child and Adolescent Vaccine Quiz