Back-to-School Vaccine Checklist: What California Students Need Before Classes Begin

An age-by-age guide to the immunizations required for school and college, plus where families can verify California’s current requirements.

As families prepare for a new school year, buying notebooks and backpacks isn’t the only item on the checklist. Making sure children are up to date on their vaccinations can help prevent enrollment delays and protect students from diseases that spread easily in classrooms.

Health officials recommend that parents review their child’s immunization record before school starts, especially if routine checkups were delayed over the past few years. While California has its own school immunization requirements, many of the required vaccines follow the immunization schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Whether your child is entering kindergarten, middle school or college, here’s what parents should know.

Kindergarten: The First Big Milestone

Children entering kindergarten are expected to have completed the primary series of childhood vaccinations. These vaccines protect against diseases that can spread quickly in schools where students spend hours together each day.

For most kindergarten students, families should verify they have received:

• DTaP: Five doses (or four if the last dose was given after the fourth birthday)
• Polio (IPV): Four doses (or three if the final dose was given after age 4)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella): Two doses
• Varicella (Chickenpox): Two doses or documented immunity
• Hepatitis B: Three-dose series

Parents who are unsure whether their child has completed the required series should contact their pediatrician or local health clinic before classes begin.

Middle School Brings New Vaccine Requirements

Around ages 11 and 12, children need additional protection as immunity from some earlier vaccines begins to decline.

Students entering seventh grade typically need:

• One Tdap booster, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis)
• One dose of the Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine
• Confirmation that all required childhood immunizations are current

Doctors also strongly recommend starting the HPV vaccine series at this age. Although California does not currently require HPV vaccination for school attendance, the vaccine helps protect against several cancers caused by human papillomavirus and is most effective when given before exposure to the virus.

Don’t Forget High School Checkups

Many families don’t realize another important vaccine review happens around age 16.

Health experts recommend:

• A MenACWY booster at age 16
• Discussing the Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine with a health care provider, especially for students planning to live in college residence halls

Scheduling a routine physical before junior or senior year can help families avoid last-minute surprises during the college application process.

College Students May Need Proof of Vaccination

Many colleges and universities require students to submit immunization records before enrolling, particularly those living in campus housing.

Common requirements include:

• Two documented doses of MMR
• One dose of Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY)
• A Tdap booster received within the past 10 years
• Documentation showing completion of the Hepatitis B and Varicella vaccine series

Some colleges also recommend or require vaccines against HPV, seasonal influenza, and COVID-19, depending on campus policies.

Students should review their college’s health services website well before move-in day, as documentation deadlines often arrive weeks before classes begin.

Quick Back-to-School Vaccine Checklist

Ages 4 to 6 (Kindergarten)

• DTaP
• Polio (IPV)
• MMR
• Varicella
• Hepatitis B

Ages 11 to 12 (Middle School)

• Tdap booster
• MenACWY
• Begin HPV vaccine series (recommended)

Age 16

• MenACWY booster
• Ask your doctor about MenB

Ages 17 to 26 (College Entry)

• Verify MMR documentation
• Verify Varicella documentation
• Confirm Hepatitis B series
• Tdap booster within the last 10 years

Where to Check California’s Requirements

While the vaccine schedule is similar across the United States, school immunization requirements are established by each state, and colleges may have additional policies.

Parents should verify current requirements through:

• The California Department of Public Health’s School Immunization Requirements webpage
• The CDC’s Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule
• Immunize.org’s directory of state immunization requirements for schools and colleges

If your child has missed one or more vaccines, don’t assume it’s too late. The CDC’s catch-up immunization schedule allows many children and teens to safely get back on track without restarting an entire vaccine series.

A Simple Step That Can Prevent Bigger Problems

Reviewing your child’s vaccination record now can save families from enrollment delays, extra appointments and last-minute paperwork just before school starts.

More importantly, staying current on recommended immunizations helps reduce the spread of preventable diseases such as measles, whooping cough and meningitis, protecting not only individual students but also classmates, teachers and vulnerable members of the community.

A quick appointment with your child’s health care provider before the first day of school can ensure they’re ready to start the new school year healthy, protected and prepared.