Immunization Requirements for Schools, Child Care & Camp

Immunization Requirements for Schools, Camps, and Childcare

Keeping children healthy in group settings is essential. This page provides a guide to help administrators, staff, and parents understand vaccine recommendations and requirements.

For School Attendance:

Maine School Immunization Requirements (PDF)

State immunization law for children in public/private school (PDF)

• Pre-K entry:
• 4 DTaP
• 3 Polio
• 1 MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• 1 Varicella (chickenpox)
• Kindergarten
• 5 DTaP (4 DTaP if 4th is given on or after 4th birthday)
• 4 Polio (3 Polio if 3rd is given on or after 4th birthday)
• 2 MMR
• 2 Varicella (chickenpox)
• Grade 7
• All previously required vaccines
• 1 Tdap
• 1 Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY)
• Grade 12
• All previously required vaccines
• 2 MenACWY, only one dose required if the 1st dose is given on/after 16th birthday

OR

Medical exemption for one or all vaccines

• In the absence of a certificate of immunization, may provide laboratory evidence of immunity to specific diseases or reliable history of disease documented by a Maine physician or other PCP
• Philosophical or religious exemptions are only allowable for students with an IEP and exemption in place prior to September 1, 2021

School Immunization Resources

• School Immunization Rule FAQs (PDF)
• School Immunization Law (PDF)
• School Immunization Requirements (PDF)
• School Immunization Requirement Letter (PDF)
• School Immunization Requirement FAQ (PDF)
• Rule Change Parent Letter (Word)
• MCV4 School Requirement Letter (PDF)
• MCV4 School Immunization Requirement FAQ (PDF)
• MCV4 Rule Change Parent Letter (Word)
• Sharing of school health records (Word)
• School Located Vaccine Clinic Resources
• Department of Education
• SLVC Informational Letter Sample (PDF)
• Vaccine Consent Form Sample (PDF)
• Immunization Catch-Up Resources from the U.S. CDC
• Catch-Up Immunizations Schedule

Diphtheria-, Tetanus-, and Pertussis-Containing Vaccines Catch-Up Guidance for Children

• 4 months -- 6 years of age (PDF)
• 7 -- 9 years of age (PDF)
• 10 -- 18 years of age (PDF)
• Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) (PDF)

For Child Care Centers:

• Regulations for the licensing of Child Care Facilities (PDF)
• Childcare Immunization Standards (PDF)
• Department of Health and Human Services Childcare Licensing
• State of Maine Child Care Facility Licensing Rule

Summer Camps

Campers are usually required to be up-to-date on the same immunizations required for school, including vaccines for diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, and meningococcal meningitis. However, there is no state law mandating vaccines for summer camps, and individual camps may have slightly different requirements, so it's best to check with the specific camp you are considering.

• Parent Resources on Immunizations - updates for this page already addressed
• For more on Youth Camp regulations, contact Health Inspections at 207-287-5671