FOR MORE INFORMATION:
If you have questions regarding Iowa’s
immunization law, please call the Iowa
Department of Public Health at:
1-800-831-6293
OR V ISIT:
https://idph.iowa.gov/immtb/immunization
REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS
LICENSED CHILD CARE
Less than 4 months of age
This chart contains the minimum requirements for
participation in licensed child care. Routine vaccination
begins at 2 months of age.
4 through 5 months of age
1 dose each of Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis, Polio, Hib,
Pneumococcal
6 through 11 months of age
2 doses each of Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis, Polio, Hib,
Pneumococcal
12 through 18 months of age
3 doses Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
2 doses Polio
2 doses Hib if received 1 dose < 15 months of age; or 1 dose
if received > 15 months of age
3 doses Pneumococcal if received 1 or 2 doses < 12 months
of age; 2 doses if received 1 dose > 12 months of age
or has not received this vaccine before
19 through 23 months of age
4 doses Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
3 doses Polio
3 doses Hib with the nal dose in the series ≥ 12 months
of age; or 2 doses if only 1 dose received < 15 months
of age; or 1 dose received if ≥ 15 months of age
4 doses Pneumococcal if received 3 doses < 12 months of age;
or 3 doses if received 1 or 2 doses < 12 months
of age; or 2 doses if received 1 dose ≥ 12 months of
age or has not received this vaccine before
1 dose Measles/Rubella ≥ 12 months of age
1 dose Varicella ≥ 12 months of age or a reliable history
of natural disease
24 months of age and older
4 doses Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
3 doses Polio
3 doses Hib with the nal dose in the series ≥ 12 months
of age, or 2 doses if only 1 dose received < 15 months
of age; or 1 dose if received ≥ 15 months of age
4 doses Pneumococcal if received 3 doses < 12 months of age;
or 3 doses if received 2 doses < 24 months of age; or 2
doses if received 1 dose < 24 months of age; or 1 dose
if received no doses < 24 months of age
1 dose Measles/Rubella ≥ 12 months of age
1 dose Varicella ≥ 12 months of age or a reliable history
of natural disease
REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS
ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY SCHOOL
Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
5 doses with 1 dose received ≥ 4 years of age if born after
Sept. 15, 2003; OR
4 doses with 1 dose received ≥ 4 years of age if born after
Sept. 15, 2000 but on or before Sept. 15, 2003; OR
3 doses with 1 dose received ≥ 4 years of age if born on or
before Sept. 15, 2000; AND
1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis - containing
(Tdap) vaccine for applicants born after Sept. 15, 2000,
upon entrance into 7th grade and above
Polio
4 doses with 1 dose received ≥ 4 years of age if born
after Sept. 15, 2003; OR
3 doses with 1 dose received ≥ 4 years of age if born
on or before Sept. 15, 2003
Measles/Rubella
2 doses with the rst dose received ≥ 12 months of age;
second dose no less than 28 days after the rst dose
Hepatitis B
3 doses
Varicella
2 doses received ≥ 12 months of age if born after
Sept. 15, 2003; OR
1 dose received ≥ 12 months of age if born on or after Sept.
15, 1997, but born on or before Sept. 15, 2003; OR
A reliable history of natural disease
Meningococcal
1 dose received on or after 10 years of age for applicants in
7th grade and above, if born after September 15, 2004;
AND
2 doses for applicants in the 12th grade, if born after
September 15, 1999, (1 dose received on or after 16 years of
age); or 1 dose if received when the student was 16 years of
age or older.
KEY:
> = greater than < = less than
≥ = greater than or equal to ≤ = less than or equal to
September 2021
IMMUNIZATION
LAW AND YOU
Immunize for a better life!
IOWA’S
IMMUNIZATION
LAW
This brochure outlines the minimum
immunization requirements for a child to
attend licensed child care and school in
Iowa. These requirements are based on
the recommendations from the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) and are minimum requirements to
maintain a healthy child in group settings.
Iowa’s immunization requirements apply to
ALL individuals attending licensed child care
centers and schools in Iowa, including those
who are home schooled.
MEDICAL EXEMPTION
A medical exemption may be granted if a health
care provider believes immunization(s) would be
harmful to the child or a member of the child’s
household. To be valid, the Certicate of Immunization
Exemption must be completed and signed by a
physician (MD or DO), physician’s assistant or nurse
practitioner. The Certicate of Immunization Exemption
must be submitted to the licensed child care center
or school the child attends.
RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION
A religious exemption may be granted if immunizations
conict with a religious belief and is not based on
scientic, medical or personal opinion. To be valid,
the Certicate of Immunization Exemption must be
completed with the name and birth date of the child and
signed by the individual or the child’s parent or guardian
and must be notarized. The Certicate of Immunization
Exemption must be submitted to the licensed child care
center or school the child attends.
ENFORCEMENT
Students who do not provide a Certicate of
Immunization, Provisional Certicate of Immunization
or Certicate of Immunization Exemption to the
licensed child care center or school on the rst day of
school cannot attend.
SCHOOL RECORDS
Schools are required to keep the certicate(s) on
le for three years after the transfer/graduation of
the child or provide the certicate(s) to the student
upon graduation. If the child transfers to a dierent
school, the previous school will assist in the transfer
of the certicate(s).
Blank certicates are available from health care
providers, schools, local public health agencies or
on the Iowa Department of Public Health website at
http://idph.iowa.gov/ImmTB/Immunization/laws or
by calling the Iowa Department of Public Health,
Immunization Program, at 1-800-831-6293.
IMMUNIZATION RECORDS
It is important to maintain immunization records in a
safe place. Proof of immunizations may be necessary
throughout life. The Iowa Department of Public
Health does not maintain historical paper immunization
records. However, immunization records can be
entered into a permanent statewide electronic
database called IRIS, Iowa’s Immunization Registry
Information System. Talk with your health care
provider about entering your immunizations into IRIS
and to obtain copies of your immunization records.
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
The Iowa Department of Public Health rules
do not apply to immunization requirements
for colleges and universities. Contact the college
or university directly for their specic immunization
requirements.
PROOF OF IMMUNIZATION
CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZ ATION
A Certicate of Immunization must be given to
the licensed child care center or school the child will
attend. To be valid, the Certicate of Immunization must
include the name and birth date of the child, the dates
required vaccines were received and must be signed by
a physician (MD or DO), physician’s assistant, nurse or
certied medical assistant.
PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE
OF IMMUNIZATION
A child who has begun, but not completed, the required
immunizations for their age may receive a Provisional
Certicate of Immunization so they may attend licensed
child care or school while they nish their required
vaccinations. To be eligible for provisional enrollment,
the child must receive at least one dose of each of
the required vaccines for their age. The next dose of
required vaccine should be given as soon as possible
but no longer than 60 days from the previous dose(s).
If at the end of 60 days, the child has not received the
next required dose(s) of vaccine, the child cannot attend
licensed child care or school.
The Provisional Certicate of Immunization must be
submitted to the licensed child care center or school
the child attends while completing the required
immunizations. After the child has received all the
required immunizations, a Certicate of Immunization
must be submitted to the licensed child care center or
school. Students transferring from one U.S. school to
another are eligible for provisional enrollment
for 60 days to allow their immunization records
to be transferred from the previous school.