Is your child ready for the first day of school?
Many public schools across Pennsylvania are set to begin the 2026–27 school year in early September — and if your child isn’t vaccinated already, you will need to make sure they are before then.
Recent reporting has found that health problems play a big role in keeping kids out of class.
National data compiled by U.S. News and World Report estimate that more than 14 million children have been chronically absent in recent years, with many of those missed days linked to illness, injury or disability.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, drawing on federal figures, defines “chronic absenteeism” as missing about 10% of the school year — roughly 18 days, or around two days a month
Here’s what parents need to know and do before the school year starts.
Required vaccines in Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s vaccination requirement guide for school students breaks down the shots your child must have before entering certain grades.
Kindergarten
- Four doses of a tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough vaccine, with at least one dose given on or after a child’s 4th birthday
- Four doses of polio vaccine; the fourth dose should come on or after the 4th birthday and at least six months after the previous dose
- Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine
- Two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, or documented proof that your child has already had chickenpox and is immune.
7th grade
By seventh grade, Pennsylvania adds a couple of extra vaccines on top of the earlier requirements.
- One dose of the Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis), due by the first day of 7th grade
- One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV), also required by the first day of 7th grade
12th grade
By the time students reach 12th grade, Pennsylvania expects them to have one more meningitis shot.
- One dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) by the first day of 12th grade. If a dose was already given at age 16 or older, that earlier shot counts as the 12th‑grade requirement
Missing vaccines could keep your child out of school
Under Pennsylvania’s school health rules, students are expected to have their required vaccines in place or be actively catching up, or they can be kept out of class.
For multi‑dose series like tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and polio, families generally have just the first five days of school to get medically appropriate doses or provide a doctor’s plan for the remaining shots.
For single‑dose vaccines — such as the Tdap and meningitis shots required in 7th and 12th grade — kids are supposed to have them before the first day of school or they may not be admitted.
The state does allow medical, religious and philosophical exemptions, but even exempt students can be excluded during an outbreak of a vaccine‑preventable disease.
Where to get school vaccines in Pennsylvania
To make sure your child’s vaccinations are up to date, most families can start with their child’s pediatrician or family doctor, who can check the record against Pennsylvania’s school requirements and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention schedule and then give any missing shots.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Health also posts school vaccination information and provider resources online; if you’re not sure where to begin, your child’s school nurse can help point you to options nearby.
