1. A record of the month, day, and year immunizations
were given, signed by your physician/clinic or public
immunization clinic, or
2. A copy of the month, day, and year immunizations
were given from your own records, signed by you.
Are there exemptions?
The law allows certain exemptions to the immunization rule:
1. If your child cannot receive a required vaccine for
medical reasons, you may submit a statement
signed by a physician that will exempt your child
from that particular requirement.
2. If immunization goes against your personal belief,
you may submit a notarized statement that will
exempt your child from immunization requirements.
What immunizations does my child need to start
school?
State law requires that children be immunized against
nine diseases to enroll in a Minnesota school. Before
the time your child enters school he or she should have
received no less than:
• 5
doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP).
The final dose must be received after the fourth
birthday.
• 4 doses of polio vaccine. The final dose must be
received after the fourth birthday.
• 2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine
after the age of 12 months.
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B immunizations (HBV).
• 2 doses of varicella.
We urge you to make note of these immunization require-
ments and to prepare now so your child will be able to
begin school. If you have any questions, please call your
child’s school or the district’s school Health Service office,
763-506-1568.
Does my child need a physical examination or vision exam?
Although it is not required for kindergarten, an annual
physical examination is always a good idea. If you do not
have a family physician, the clinics listed below are good
resources for low cost health care.
• Central Avenue Clinic, 612-781-6816
• Fremont Community Health, 612-588-9411
• St. Mary’s Health Clinic, 651-287-7777
• Anoka County Immunization Info Line, 763-323-6100
• North Metro Pediatrics, 763-783-3722
School nurses can help obtain free and reduced cost
glasses and vision checks for children of families who
have financial needs. Please check with your school nurse.
The exception would be if your child received the fourth
dose of DTP and the third dose of polio after he or she
was 4 years of age, then four and three doses would be
sufficient.
If your child has had chickenpox disease or a medical
reason that does not allow them to receive chickenpox
vaccine, you must have a doctor sign a form stating
that the child does not need to get a varicella shot. Your
medical provider is required to provide the year your
child had the chickenpox disease.
Do I need any proof of immunization?
To comply with the law, you must submit appropriate
documentation of your child’s immunization record to
the school principal or health staff before beginning
school. This documentation may be in one of the
following forms:
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