Division of Public Health
Curtis State Office Building
1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66612-1368
Janet Stanek, Secretary
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Phone: 785-296-1086
Laura Kelly, Governor
Kansas School Kindergarten Through Grade 12
Immunization Requirements for 2023-2024 School Year
Immunization requirements and recommendations for the 2023-2024 school year are based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. The current recommended and minimum interval immunization schedules may be found on the CDC webpage. The best disease prevention is achieved by adhering to the recommended schedule. However, if a child falls behind, the catch- up schedule is implemented. To avoid missed opportunities, immunization providers may use a 4-day grace period, in most instances, per age and interval between doses. In such cases, these doses may be counted as valid.
K.S.A. 72 - 6261 - Kansas Statutes Related to School Immunizations Requirements and K.A.R. 28-1-20, published July 18, 2019 in the Kansas Register, defines the immunizations required for school and early childhood program attendance.
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP/Tdap): Five doses required. Doses should be given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years (prior to kindergarten entry). The 4th dose may be given as early as 12 months of age, if at least 6 months have elapsed since dose 3. The 5th dose is not necessary if the 4th dose was administered at age 4 years or older. A dose of Tdap is required at entry to 7th grade (11-12 years).
Hepatitis A (Hep A): Two doses required. Doses should be given at 12 months with a minimum interval of 6 months between the 1st and 2nd dose.
Hepatitis B (Hep B): Three doses required. Doses should be given at birth, 1-2 months, and 6-18 months. Minimum age for the final dose is 24 weeks.
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Two doses required. Doses should be given at 12-15 months and 4-6 years (prior to kindergarten entry). Minimum age is 12 months and interval between doses may be as short as 28 days.
Meningococcal-Serogroup A,C,W,Y (MenACWY): Two doses required. Doses should be given at entry to 7th grade (11-12 years) and 11th grade (16-18 years). For children 16-18 years, with no previous MenACWY, only one dose is required.
Poliomyelitis (IPV/tOPV): Four doses required. Doses should be given at 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years (prior to kindergarten entry). Three doses are acceptable if 3rd dose was given after 4 years of age and at least 6 months have elapsed since dose 2.
Varicella (Chickenpox): Two doses are required. Doses should be given at 12-15 months and 4-6 years (prior to kindergarten entry). The 2nd dose may be administered as early as 3 months after the 1st dose, however, a dose administered after a 4-week interval is considered valid. No doses are required when student has history of varicella disease documented by a licensed physician.
Legal alternatives to school vaccination requirements are found in K.S.A. 72-6262.
In addition, to the immunizations required for school entry the following vaccines are recommended to protect students:
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Two doses recommended at 11 years of age or three doses if the series is started after 15 years.
Influenza: Annual vaccination recommended for all ages 6 months of age. Number of doses is dependent on age and number of doses given in previous years.
Vaccination efforts by school and public health officials, immunization providers and parents are key to the success of protecting our children and communities from vaccine preventable diseases.