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North Carolina law requires all children in the state to receive certain immunizations. Records are checked when children enter school or child care.
Vaccination requirements for kindergarten-age children can be found below:
| Vaccine | Number Doses Required Before School Entry* |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis | 5 doses |
| Polio | 4 doses |
| Measles | 2 doses |
| Mumps | 2 doses |
| Rubella | 1 dose |
| Haemophilus Influenzae type B (Hib) | 4 doses |
| Hepatitis B (Hep B) | 3 doses |
| Varicella (chickenpox) | 2 doses |
| Pneumococcal conjugate | 4 doses |
Vaccination requirements for 7th grade age children can be found below:
| Vaccine | Number Doses Required Before School Entry* |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis | 5 doses |
| Polio | 4 doses |
| Measles | 2 doses |
| Mumps | 2 doses |
| Rubella | 1 dose |
| Hepatitis B (Hep B) | 3 doses |
| Varicella (chickenpox) | 2 doses |
| Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis | 1 dose |
| Meningococcal conjugate | 1 dose |
Vaccination requirements for 12th grade age children can be found below:
| Vaccine | Number Doses Required Before School Entry* |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis | 5 doses |
| Polio | 4 doses |
| Measles | 2 doses |
| Mumps | 2 doses |
| Rubella | 1 dose |
| Hepatitis B (Hep B) | 3 doses |
| Varicella (chickenpox) | 1 dose |
| Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis | 1 dose |
| Meningococcal conjugate (Effective 2020-2021 School Year) | 2 doses |
*Please read below for further information
North Carolina Vaccine-Specific Requirements
The North Carolina General Statutes (G.S. 130A-152(a)) require immunizations for every child present in this state. Every parent, guardian or person in loco parentis is responsible for ensuring that their child(ren) receive required immunizations. If you have specific questions regarding your child, please contact your child's health care provider or your local health department. North Carolina requires the following immunizations:
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
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.
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.
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.
Pneumococcal
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.
Meningococcal
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.
North Carolina law requires children receive certain vaccines. But in order to be fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, children should receive all age-appropriate immunizations.
For more information about vaccine preventable diseases and immunizations recommended, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Immunization Action Coalition.
Information on vaccination requirements and resources for communicating with parents can be found on our Resources for Schools page.
Updated: August 23, 2024
