Immunizations
To keep children in schools healthy, Georgia requires children to get vaccines against certain diseases before going to school.
Students entering a Georgia school for the first time – no matter what the grade level – must have a completed Certificate of Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition screening form. “First time” means never enrolled in a Georgia school before at any time in their lives. For other requirements, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/schoolvaccines
Parents who have medical or religious objections to immunizations or health screenings should contact the health department or a private physician for proper documentation.
7th GRADE IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS:
All students born on or after January 1, 2002 and entering or transferring into 7th grade need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster immunization (called “Tdap”) and an adolescent meningococcal (meningitis) vaccination.
Proof of Tdap immunization and meningitis vaccination must be documented on the Georgia immunization certificate (Form 3231).
11th GRADE IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS:
Effective July 1, 2021, children 16 years of age and older, who are entering the 11th grade (including new entrants), must have received one booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), unless their initial dose was administered on or after their 16th birthday.
*** The HPV vaccine is also recommended for both girls and boys at ages 11–12 to protect against cancers and other diseases caused by human papillomavirus.