Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Most vaccine-preventable diseases are rare in North Carolina because of the success of vaccinations. If we stopped vaccinating, diseases that are nearly under control today would return. More people would get sick and more would die. Fortunately, there are safe and effective vaccines available to protect against these diseases:
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North Carolina Requirements
All children in North Carolina are required to be vaccinated against:
Five doses (DtaP). Three doses by age seven months and two booster doses, the first by age 19 months and the second on or after the fourth birthday and before entering school for the first time. If the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday, the fifth dose is not required.
A booster dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is required for individuals who have not previously received it and are entering the seventh grade or by 12 years of age, whichever comes first.
Individuals entering college or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008 must have had three doses of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid; one of which must be tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis. Click here for more information.
Three doses of HbOC or PRP-T, or two doses of PRP-OMP before age seven months and a booster dose of any type on or after age 12 months and by age 16 months.
Individuals who receive the first dose of Hib on or after seven months of age and before 12 months of age are required to have two doses of HbOC, PRP-T or PRP-OMP and a booster dose on or after 12 months of age and by 16 months of age. Individuals who receive the first dose of Hib on or after 12 months of age and before 15 months of age are required to have only two doses of HbOC, PRP-T or PRP-OMG and a booster dose two months later. Individuals who receive the first dose of Hib vaccine on or after 15 months of age are required to have only one dose of any of the Hib conjugate vaccines. Individuals who have passed their fifth birthday are not required to be vaccinated against Hib. Click here for more information.
Three doses. One dose by three months of age, second dose by five months of age and a third dose by 19 months of age. The last dose of hepatitis B vaccine series shall not be administered prior to 24 weeks of age. Individuals born before July 1, 1994 are not required to receive the hepatitis B vaccine. Click here for more information.
Two doses at least 28 days apart. One dose on or after 12 months of age and before 16 months of age, and a second dose before entering school for the first time. The requirement for a second dose does not apply to individuals who entered school, college or university for the first time before July 1, 1994.
A person who has been diagnosed prior to January 1, 1994 by a physician (or designee such as a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant) as having measles (rubeola) or an individual who has been documented by serological testing to have a protective antibody titer against measles is not required to receive measles vaccine. Individuals born before 1957 are not required to receive measles vaccine except in measles outbreak situations. Click here for more information.
Two doses. One dose is required for individuals entering the seventh grade or by 12 years of age, whichever comes first on or after July 1, 2015. A booster dose is required for individuals entering the 12th grade or by 17 years of age, whichever comes first. Individuals who entered seventh grade before July 1, 2015 are not required to receive the first dose. The booster dose does not apply to individuals who entered the 12th grade before August 1, 2020. If the first dose is administered on or after the 16th birthday, a booster dose is not required. Individuals born before January 1, 2003 shall not be required to receive meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Click here for more information.
Two doses. One dose on or after 12 months of age and before age 16 months, and a second dose before entering school, college or university for the first time.
A physician’s diagnosis is not acceptable for mumps disease(s). Individuals must be immunized or have laboratory confirmation of disease or have been documented by serological testing to have a protective antibody against mumps. Individuals born before 1957 are not required to receive the mumps vaccine. Individuals that entered the first grade for the first time before July 1, 1987 or college or university before July 1, 1994 are not required to receive the vaccine. Individuals that entered school, college, or university before July 1, 2008 are not required to receive the second dose of mumps vaccine. Click here for more information.
Five doses (DtaP). Three doses by age seven months and two booster doses, the first by age 19 months and the second on or after the fourth birthday and before entering school for the first time. If the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday, the fifth dose is not required.
A booster dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is required for individuals who have not previously received it and are entering the seventh grade or by 12 years of age, whichever comes first.
Individuals entering college or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008 must have had three doses of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid; one of which must be tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis. Click here for more information.
Four doses. Three doses by age seven months and a booster dose at 12 through 15 months of age. Individuals who receive the first dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on or after seven months of age and before 12 months of age are required to have two doses at least four weeks apart; and a booster dose at 12 through 15 months of age. Individuals who receive the first dose on or after 12 months of age and before 24 months of age are required to have two doses at least eight weeks apart to complete the series. Individuals who receive the first dose on or after 24 months of age and before five years are required to have one dose to complete the series.
No individual who has passed his or her fifth birthday shall be required to be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. Individuals born before July 1, 2015 are not required to receive pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Click here for more information.
Four doses. Two doses by five months of age, a third dose by 19 months of age and a booster dose on or after the fourth birthday and before entering school for the first time. If the third dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday, the fourth dose is not required if the third dose was given at least six months after the second dose. Click here for more information.
One dose on or after 12 months of age and before 16 months of age.
A physician's diagnosis is not acceptable for rubella disease(s). Individuals must be immunized or have laboratory confirmation of rubella disease or have been documented by serological testing to have a protective antibody titer against rubella. Any individual who has attained his or her fiftieth birthday is not required to receive rubella vaccine except in outbreak situations. Any individual who entered college or university after his or her thirtieth birthday and before February 1, 1989 is not required to receive rubella vaccine except in outbreak situations. Click here for more information. Click here for more information.
Five doses (DTaP). Three doses by age seven months and two booster doses, the first by age 19 months and the second on or after the fourth birthday and before entering school for the first time. If the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday, the fifth dose is not required.
A booster dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is required for individuals who have not previously received it and are entering the seventh grade or by 12 years of age, whichever comes first.
Individuals entering college or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008 must have had three doses of tetanus/diptheria toxoid; one of which must be tetanus/diptheria/pertussis. Click here for more information.
Two doses administered at least 28 days apart. One dose on or after 12 months of age and before age 19 months, and a second dose before entering school for the first time.
An individual with laboratory confirmation of varicella disease immunity or has been documented by serological testing to have a protective antibody titer against varicella is not required to receive varicella vaccine. An individual who has documentation from a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant verifying history of varicella disease is not required to receive varicella vaccine. The documentation shall include the name of the individual with a history of varicella disease, the approximate date or age of infection, and a health care provider signature. Individuals born before April 1, 2001 are not required to receive varicella vaccine. The requirement for the second dose of varicella vaccine shall not apply to individuals who enter Kindergarten or first grade for the first time before July 1, 2015. Click here for more information.
North Carolina Recommendations
The following vaccine-preventable diseases are recommended by the State of North Carolina.
Both vaccines are recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls, and for females 13 through 26 years of age, who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. These vaccines are available for boys and men, 9 through 26 years of age.
North Carolina recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months receive an annual flu vaccine.
Recommended for persons spending a month or longer in endemic areas during the transmission season, especially if travel will include rural areas. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is NOT recommended for all travelers to Asia.
All children should be vaccinated against Rotavirus.
All adults 60 years old or older should get the shingles vaccine.
Vaccination is not usually needed in the U.S. Usually, it is recommended only for international travelers going to developing countries where exposure to contaminated food or water is likely.
People 9 months of age through 59 years old who are traveling to or living in areas of South America and Africa where yellow fever infection is officially reported should be vaccinated. Adults 60 years of age and older who cannot avoid travel to a yellow fever area should discuss vaccination with their doctor.
