Immunization Requirements for Students

For clarification, the message below regarding health entry requirements, which was sent out yesterday, applies only to enrolling kindergarten students and all students who are new to APS for the 2020-21 school year.

Additionally, parents of rising 7th graders should submit a record of their child’s Tdap vaccine if they have not already done so. If your student is up-to-date with immunizations and you have previously submitted them to your school, no action is needed at this time. 

Original message:
Despite the fact that students will not be physically in school at the start of school, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), have not changed or delayed school health entry requirements. Students are still required to have their physicals, TB test/screen and immunizations before the start of school on Sept. 8, even if classes are virtual.Families will need to submit the Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Form (including vaccine record) and Tuberculosis Screening Certificate by postal mail to the attention of the school clinic at their child’s school before Sept. 8.

Immunization requirements have not been waived for the 2020-21 school year. The VDH provides School Immunization Requirements here. If your child has not received his/her required vaccines from their pediatrician and you wish to have your child to receive these free vaccines at the Arlington County Health Department, please call 703-228-1200 for an appointment. Clinics will be held by appointment on Wednesdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in August.

For questions or support, please visit the Arlington County School Health webpage, contact 703-228-1651, or reach out to your school’s public health nurse directly using the contact information on the webpage.