2009 Texas Immunization Revisions

2009 - 2010 Texas Vaccination Requirement Revisions

On March 5, 2009, the Executive Commissioner on Health & Human Services approved several revisions to the "Immunization Requirements for Children and Students in Texas Public and Private Schools.

The changes to the requirements were made in order to update the Texas elementary and secondary school immunization requirements so that they adhere more closely to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  These changes include:

Hepatitis A Vaccine:  Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering kindergarten, statewide, will be required to have 2 doses of Hepatitis A vaccine.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccine:  Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Varicella Vaccine:  Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering kindergarten and 7'th grade will be required to have 2 doses of varicella vaccine.  A written statement from a parent (or legal guardian or managing conservator), school nurse, or physician attesting to a child's positive history of varicella disease (chickenpox), or of varicella immunity, is acceptable in lieu of either dose of varicella vaccine.

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis containing vaccine (Tdap):  Beginning August1, 2009, all students entering the seventh grade will be required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in the seventh grade will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Students in grades 8-12 are required to have a booster dose of Tdap if it has been ten years since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exist.

Meningococcal Vaccine: Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine.

These vaccinations are available thru Hill Country Urgent Care, Marble Falls Minor Emergency Center , many pediatrics and family medicine practices in the greater Austin area and The Texas Department of State Health Services.