Chester County Health Department
The Chester County Health Department encourages all health care providers to use summertime as an opportunity to vaccinate school-aged children with all age-appropriate vaccines and administer vaccines required to attend school in PA.
· For attendance in all grades, children need tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; hepatitis B; varicella; MMR; and polio vaccines. One dose of polio vaccine must be given on or after the 4th birthday. Children may be excluded without documentation of these vaccines.
· For attendance in 7th grade, students need Tdap and meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) vaccines on the first day or risk exclusion. Both vaccines may be given at age 11, making the 6th grade physical an opportune time to vaccinate.
· For attendance in 12th grade, students need one dose of MCV4 vaccine given on or after the 16th birthday or risk exclusion.
· The vaccines required for entrance, 7th grade and 12th grade continue to be required in each succeeding school year. Medical or philosophical/religious exemptions are accepted.
The Chester County Health Department offers all recommended vaccines at no cost to children with Medical Assistance and those who are uninsured or underinsured. A parent or guardian must accompany the child and bring vaccine records.
Privately insured children, including those with CHIP, pay out of pocket for vaccines at the Health Department. A child’s medical home may be able to bill insurance. Other community providers that can bill insurance may be found here: https://vaccinefinder.org/
More information about Chester County Health Department immunization clinics may be found at: www.chesco.org/health
More information about vaccines required to attend school in PA may be found at the PA Department of Health website:
http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Immunizations/School/Pages/default.aspx#.WtoHtNQbOiQ
Click here for more information on PA School Vaccination Requirements