Immunizations

Exemptions:

• Medical (valid for 1 year, unless otherwise specified by the provider)

• Reasons of Conscience (valid for 2 years)

The law allows (a) physicians to write a statement stating that the vaccine(s) required would be medically harmful or injurious to the health and well-being of the child or household member, and (b) parents/guardians to choose an exemption from immunization requirements for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Schools must maintain an up-to-date list of students with exemptions, because these students may be excluded in times of emergency or epidemic declared by the commissioner of public health.

request an exemption affidavit

Original, notarized exemption affidavits must be completed and submitted to the school nurse.

All immunizations should be completed by the first date of attendance.

The law requires that students be fully vaccinated against specified diseases. A student may be enrolled provisionally if the student has an immunization record that indicates the student has received at least one dose of each specified age-appropriate vaccine required by this rule.

To remain enrolled, the student must complete the required subsequent doses in each vaccine series on schedule and as rapidly as is medically feasible and provide acceptable evidence of vaccination to the school.

A school nurse or school administrator shall review the immunization status of a provisionally enrolled student every 30 days to ensure continued compliance in completing the required doses of vaccination. If, at the end of the 30-day period, a student has not received a subsequent dose of vaccine, the student is not in compliance and the school shall exclude the student from school attendance until the required dose is administered.

Students Qualifying for Provisional Enrollment Include:

• Students include students transferring from one Texas public or private school to another
• Students who are dependents of active duty military
• Students in foster care
• Students who are Mckinney- Vento

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). VISs explain both the benefits and risks of a vaccine to adult vaccine recipients and the parents or legal representatives of vaccines who are children and adolescents. Federal law requires that VISs be handed out whenever certain vaccinations are given (before each dose).

Visit the website for more information.

ImmTrac2, the Texas Immunization Registry, is a free service developed by Texas DSHS. It is a secure, confidential registry that stores a child’s immunization information electronically in one central system. It is designed to consolidate immunization records from multiple providers.

ImmTrac is part of a DSHS initiative to increase vaccine coverage rates and protect the health of Texas’s children. The goal of ImmTrac is to keep children healthy by ensuring they receive age appropriate vaccines.

Immtrac2 registry

Enrollment: 
To register children 17 years and younger, parents must consent. Consent is required one time and is valid until your child turns 18. People 18 years and older must complete an adult consent form.

1. Download the correct form.  Each person needs their own form. All forms are online in the forms page.

parental consent form

adult consent form

2. Complete the form.

3. Submit with a complete record of immunizations to:

• Any local healthcare provider registered with ImmTrac2
• A local health department or
• The DSHS Immunization Section

Mail:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Immunization Section – ImmTrac2
MC 1947, PO Box 149347
Austin, TX 78714-9347

Fax:
512-776-7790