Immunization
Requirements
Minimum
Immunization Requirements for K-12
(English & Spanish)
Please turn updated shot
records in to the front office or have a
copy faxed to
(281)516-9807.
A student must be fully
immunized
against certain diseases or
must present a certificate
that, from medical, religious, or reasons
of conscience, the student should not be
immunized.
Exclusions from compliance are
allowable on an individual basis for
medical contraindications, reasons of
conscience, including a religious belief,
and active duty with the armed forces of
the United States. Children and students
in these categories must submit evidence
for exclusion from compliance as specified
in the Health and Safety Code,
§161.004(d), Health and Safety Code,
§161.0041, Education Code, Chapter 38,
Education Code, Chapter 51, and the Human
Resources Code, Chapter 42.
If a student should not be
immunized for medical reasons, the student
or parent must present certificate signed
by a U.S. licensed physician that, in the
doctor’s opinion, the immunization
required would be harmful to the health
and well-being of the student or any
member of the student’s family or
household. This certificate must be
renewed yearly unless the physician
specifies a life-long contraindication.
If a student ‘s religious beliefs
conflict with requirement that the student
be immunized, the student must present a
statement signed by the student (or by the
parent if the student is a minor) that
states that immunization conflicts with
the beliefs and practices of a recognized
church or religious denomination of which
the student is an adherent or member. This
statement must be renewed yearly.
To
claim an exclusion for reasons of
conscience, including a religious belief,
the child's parent, legal guardian, or a
student 18 years of age or older must
present to the school or child-care
facility a completed, signed and notarized
affidavit on a form provided by the
department stating that the child's
parent, legal guardian, or the student
declines vaccinations for reasons of
conscience, including because of the
person's religious beliefs. The affidavit
will be valid for a two-year period from
the date of notarization.
A person claiming exclusion for
reasons of conscience, including a
religious belief, from a required
immunization may only obtain the affidavit
form by submitting a request (via online,
fax, mail, or hand-delivery) to the
department. The request must include the
following information:
(i)
full name of child or
student;
(ii)
child's or student's
date of birth (month/day/year);
(iii)
complete mailing
address, including telephone number; and
(iv)
number of requested
affidavit forms (not to exceed 5).
Requests for affidavit forms can be
submitted to the department through one of
the following methods:
(i)
written request through
the United States Postal Service (or other
commercial carrier) to the department at:
DSHS Immunization Branch, Mail code 1946,
P.O. Box 149347, Austin, Texas 78714-9347;
(ii)
by facsimile to (512)
776-7544;
(iii)
by hand-delivery to the
department's physical address at 1100 West
49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756; OR
You
may now download the form directly from
the department's
Immunization
program website (at www.ImmunizeTexas.com)
OR HERE!
The department will mail the
requested affidavit form(s) (not to exceed
five forms per child or student) to the
specified mailing address.
To claim an exclusion for armed
forces, persons who can prove that they
are serving on active duty with the armed
forces of the United States are exempted
from the requirements in these sections.
A child or student, who has not
received the required immunizations for
reasons of conscience, including religious
beliefs, may be excluded from school in
times of emergency or epidemic declared by
the commissioner of the department.
The
immunizations required are: diphtheria,
tetanus, polio, measles (rubella), mumps
and influenza; the Charter school can
provide information on age-appropriate
doses or on an acceptable
physician-validated history of illness
required by the Texas Department of
health. Proof of immunization maybe personal records from a licensed
physician or public health clinic with a
signature or rubber-stamp validation.
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