Immunizations
State law requires that children have the standard series of vaccinations and immunizations or submit a notarized Affidavit of Exemption on Religious Grounds form that requests an exclusion for religious reasons. Some students also may require medical exemptions. Students who do not have either the required vaccinations or an exemption will not be able to attend school.
These are minimum requirements:
- 4 doses of DTP with one dose given after the 4th birthday
- 3 doses of Polio (oral or injectable) with one dose given after the 4th birthday
- 2 doses of MMR given after the first birthday – New Requirement *
- 1 dose of Td booster given prior to entering the 7th grade. This schedule applies to pupils who have completed the prior 4 doses listed above.
*It is currently required that a 2nd dose of MMR be administered before kindergarten admission.
Chickenpox vaccine is also recommended if your child has not had the disease.
These vaccines are available from your private health care provider and the Gallatin City-County Health Department. You will need written immunization records from the physician or clinic that gave your child the vaccine or your child will not be allowed to begin school. Your child’s physician can give a medical exemption if the immunization would endanger your child’s health. However, if your child has a medical or religious exemption, s/he will be excluded from school if they have been or may be exposed to the diseases specified by this law.
Regular Immunization Clinics are held 2-3 times weekly at the Gallatin City-County Health Department. Regular clinic hours are:
- Mondays 9:00 – 12:00 p.m.
- Wednesdays 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Tuesday evening 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. (once a month)
- Wednesday evening 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. (once a month)
To make an appointment for these clinics and to avoid delays in starting school, please call the Department at 582-3100 as soon as possible.