School & Childcare Immunizations

Immunizations Required for School and Child Care Attendance

Several immunizations are required before your child may attend school or childcare. Children who are not up-to-date on their immunizations may be required to stay home for an extended period of time (21 days or more) if there is a disease outbreak.

Immunization Registry / History

A medically verified record includes one or more of the following:

  • A Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) printed from the Immunization Information System (IIS)
  • A physical copy of the CIS form with a healthcare provider signature
  • A physical copy of the CIS with accompanying medical immunization records from a healthcare provider verified and signed by school staff
  • A CIS printed from MyIR

Immunization Exemptions

As a parent or guardian, you may choose to exempt your child from one or more school-required vaccines. However, this could put your child at a higher risk of getting sick. Washington State law (WAC 246-110) allows a health officer to exclude children from school or childcare during an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease if they are not fully immunized due to a medical, religious, philosophical, or personal exemption. 

Please note: philosophical or personal exemptions are no longer allowed for the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

Vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect your child and others. Please take time to carefully consider your options.

Information for School Staff

As part of the law change, school staff need to follow up with any child who currently has a personal/philosophical exemption to MMR vaccine. DOH has developed a sample letter for school staff to send to parents on the new requirements. Please edit and use this document as needed:

Certificate of Exemption Form

Information for Child Care Staff

As part of the law change, childcare centers need to ensure staff are immunized with MMR, and they need to follow up with any child who currently has a personal/philosophical exemption to MMR vaccine. Click the links below for childcare center sample letters to educate staff and parents/guardians about the new requirements. Please customize the marked sections and use these documents as needed.

Additional Resources: