Immunization
Requirements
Minimum
Immunization Requirements for K-12
(English & Spanish)
Please turn updated shot
records in to the front office or have a
copy faxed to
(281)516-9807.
A student must be fully
immunized
against certain diseases
or must present a certificate
that, from medical, religious, or
reasons of conscience, the student
should not
be immunized.
Exclusions from compliance are
allowable
on an individual basis for medical
contraindications, reasons of
conscience,
including a religious belief, and active
duty with the armed forces of the
United States. Children and students in
these categories must submit evidence
for exclusion from compliance as
specified in the Health and Safety Code,
§161.004(d), Health and Safety Code,
§161.0041, Education Code, Chapter 38,
Education Code, Chapter 51, and the
Human Resources Code, Chapter 42.
If a student should not be
immunized for medical reasons, the
student or parent must present
certificate
signed by a U.S. licensed physician
that, in the doctor’s opinion, the
immunization required would be harmful
to the health and well-being of the
student or any member of the student’s
family or household. This certificate
must be renewed yearly unless the
physician specifies a life-long
contraindication.
If a student ‘s religious beliefs
conflict with requirement that the
student be immunized, the student must
present a statement signed by the
student (or by the parent if the student
is a
minor) that states that immunization
conflicts with the beliefs and practices
of a recognized church or religious
denomination of which the student is an
adherent or member. This statement must
be renewed yearly.
To
claim an exclusion for reasons of
conscience, including a religious
belief, the child's parent, legal
guardian,
or a student 18 years of age or older
must present to the school or child-care
facility a completed, signed and
notarized affidavit on a form provided
by the
department stating that the child's
parent, legal guardian, or the student
declines vaccinations for reasons of
conscience, including because of the
person's religious beliefs. The
affidavit will be valid for a two-year
period
from the date of notarization.
A person claiming exclusion for
reasons of conscience, including a
religious belief, from a required
immunization may only obtain the
affidavit form by submitting a request
(via
online, fax, mail, or hand-delivery) to
the department. The request must
include the following information:
(i)
full name of child or
student;
(ii)
child's or student's
date of birth (month/day/year);
(iii)
complete mailing
address, including telephone number;
and
(iv)
number of requested
affidavit forms (not to exceed 5).
Requests for affidavit forms must
be submitted to the department through
one of the following methods:
(i)
written request through
the United States Postal
Service (or other commercial carrier) to
the department at: DSHS Immunization
Branch, Mail code 1946, P.O. Box 149347,
Austin, Texas 78714-9347;
(ii)
by facsimile to (512)
776-7544;
(iii)
by hand-delivery to the
department's physical address
at 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas
78756; or
(iv)
via the department's
Immunization program website (at
www.ImmunizeTexas.com).
The department will mail the
requested affidavit form(s) (not to
exceed five forms per child or student)
to
the specified mailing address.
To claim an exclusion for armed
forces, persons who can prove that they
are serving on active duty with the
armed forces of the United States are
exempted from the requirements in these
sections.
A child or student, who has not
received the required immunizations for
reasons of conscience, including
religious beliefs, may be excluded from
school in times of emergency or
epidemic declared by the commissioner of
the department.
The
immunizations required are: diphtheria,
tetanus, polio, measles (rubella),
mumps and influenza; the Charter school
can provide information on
age-appropriate doses or on an
acceptable physician-validated history
of
illness required by the Texas Department
of health. Proof of immunization maybe personal records from a licensed
physician or public health clinic with a
signature or rubber-stamp validation.
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