Vaccines & Chicago School Health Requirements
Just as you care for your child's daily needs, protecting their health is an unwavering responsibility. Ensuring your child is up-to-date with immunizations and health screenings is essential for their well-being, not just during the school year but throughout their life.
In the state of Illinois, children enrolled in a childcare facility or school must meet requirements for health examinations and vaccinations. These are designed to keep both your child and the children around them safe and healthy.
Here’s an overview of these requirements, why they’re important, and how Mile Square can help make sure your child is ready to begin the school year.
What health examinations and vaccinations are required for children in Chicago?
Health Examination Requirements
Health examinations are an essential part of your child’s health. These visits — sometimes called well-child visits — include a complete physical exam to monitor your child’s growth and development.
In the state of Illinois, children attending any public, private, or parochial school are required to have health examinations at the following times:
- One year before entering kindergarten or 1st grade
- When entering 6th grade
- When entering 9th grade
- When first entering public, private, or parochial school (such as if your child was previously homeschooled)
In addition to a general physical examination, children of these ages may also be required to have an eye exam and a dental exam.
A health exam may also be required to participate in sports.
Vaccination Requirements
Vaccines protect your child and the children around them from illnesses. The following are the minimum vaccination requirements in the state of Illinois.
For more detailed information about vaccination requirements in Illinois, including minimum intervals allowed between doses and options to prove immunity, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Child Care Facilities, Preschools, Early Childhood Programs, and Pre-Kindergarten Programs
- Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DTP or DTaP): Three doses by 1 year old, and one additional dose by 2 years old.
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Proof of immunization that complies with the ACIP recommendation for Hib vaccination. For children 24 to 59 months of age without series, you must show proof of one dose of Hib vaccine at 15 months or older.
- Hepatitis B: Three doses appropriately spaced, with the third dose on or after 24 weeks old.
- Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (PCV): Proof of immunization that complies with ACIP recommendations for PCV. For children 24 to 59 months of age without primary series of PCV, you must show proof of receiving one dose of PCV after 24 months old.
- Measles: One dose on or after turning 1 year old.
- Mumps: One dose on or after turning 1 year old.
- Polio: Two doses by 1 year old, and one additional dose by 2 years old. Alternatively, three doses for any child 24 months of age or older, appropriately spaced.
- Rubella: One dose on or after turning 1 year old.
- Varicella: One dose on or after turning 1 year old.
First Entry Into School (Kindergarten or 1st Grade)
- Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DTP or DTaP): Four or more doses, with the last dose being a booster and having been received on or after turning 4 years old. Children ages 7 and older should receive Td2 instead of DTP or DTaP.
- Polio: Four dose (booster) series, with the last dose on or after turning 4 years old.
Kindergarten through 12th Grade
- DTP, DTaP, Pediatric DT, or Td2: Three or more doses, with the last dose being a booster and having been received on or after turning 4 years old. Upon entering 6th grade, one dose DTaP vaccine after turning 11 years old, regardless of the interval since the last dose of DTP, DTaP, or Td.
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): For children 24 to 59 months of age without series, you must show proof of one dose of Hib vaccine at 15 months or older. Children 5 and older are not required to provide proof of immunization with Hib vaccine.
- Hepatitis B: For students entering 6th through 12th grade, three doses administered at appropriate intervals. The third dose is not required if you have documentation that your child received two doses of adult formulation Recombivax-HB vaccine (10 mcg), that they were 11 to 15 years old at the time of vaccination, and that the interval between the two doses was at least 4 months.
- Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (PCV): For children 24 to 59 months of age without primary series of PCV, you must show proof of receiving one dose of PCV after 24 months old. Children 5 and older are not required to provide proof of immunization with PCV vaccine.
- Measles: Two doses, with the first dose on or after turning 1 year old and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later.
- Meningococcal Disease: For students entering 6th through 11th grade, one dose on or after turning 11 years old. For students entering 12th grade, two doses, with the second dose administered on or after turning 16 years old and at least 8 weeks after the first dose. The second dose is not necessary if the first dose is administered on or after turning 16 years old.
- Mumps: Two doses, with the first dose on or after turning 1 year old and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later.
- Polio: For students in grades 7 to 12, three or more doses, with the last dose on or after turning 4 years old.
- Rubella: Two doses, with the first dose on or after turning 1 year old and the second dose no less than 4 weeks (28 days) later.
- Varicella: Two doses for all grade levels. The first dose must be on or after turning 1 year old and the 2nd dose no less than 4 weeks (28) days later.
Why are health examinations and vaccinations important?
Health examinations and vaccinations are crucial for the safety of both your child and the children around them.
Health exams are important to monitor your child’s rapid growth and development, including their height, weight, hearing, vision, and other important components of their physical health. These exams also focus on other areas of wellness, such as relationships, school, safety, and access to community resources.
By having regular exams, your child’s healthcare provider can find any problems early and prevent future problems from developing.
Vaccinations protect your child and the children around them from illnesses that can be harmful and sometimes deadly. Vaccines equip your child’s immune system to fight off illness, keeping them safe and preventing them from spreading illness to other children.
The recommended vaccination schedule is designed to provide your child with the most amount of protection when they are more likely to be exposed to a disease, such as when entering school for the first time.
Even if your child does not attend school or any childcare facility, such as if they are homeschooled, it’s still important to keep up with recommended vaccinations. Other activities, like playing at the park or going to the library, can also expose your child to a wide variety of germs.
Are vaccines safe?
Vaccines undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are safe. Before a vaccine is ever given to a person, extensive lab testing is performed. Then, vaccines are tested on people — sometimes for years — before it’s given to the general public.
Once a vaccine has been approved, many government agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC, and National Institutes of Health (NIH), continue to monitor the safety and efficacy of vaccinations.
There are some misconceptions that vaccines are connected with health concerns, like diabetes, autism, or fertility problems. However, this is not true. Research continues to prove that vaccines do not cause these issues and are safe for children and teens.
Does my child need a sports physical?
Sports and other extracurricular activities can put extra stress on your child — both physically and emotionally. In order to make sure your child is healthy enough to participate in sports safely and understands how to take care of their body before, during, and after physical activity, make an appointment for a sports physical (also known as a pre-participation physical evaluation, or PPE).
Some schools, including Chicago Public Schools, require a healthcare provider to fill out a specific form before your child participates in any sport and some other extracurricular activities. If you have questions about what your child needs to take part in school-sponsored activities, talk to your child’s school. Often, healthcare providers can fill out this form at your child’s annual well-child visit.
Schedule an appointment for your child’s health examinations and vaccinations at Mile Square Health Center
At Mile Square, we make it convenient to get your child up to speed with health exams and vaccinations. All of your healthcare needs are in one place, and most locations offer evening and weekend hours as well as walk-in appointments.
To maintain your child’s health, we offer primary care, which includes well-child visits, vaccinations, preventative care, and care for chronic medical conditions.
Find the Mile Square location nearest you to make an appointment for your child’s health and wellness needs.
