Additional School Vaccinations Will Be Required for the 2012-2013 School Year

Currently West Virginia State law requires that all children entering school in West Virginia for the first time in grades K-12 must show proof of immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B unless properly medically exempted. Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, older students entering 7th and 12th grade will have new vaccination requirements that must be met before the start of the school year.

The new requirements are:

  • 7th grade enterers must show proof of a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) and one dose of MCV4 (meningococcal/meningitis) vaccine.
  • 12th grade enterers must show proof of a single dose of Tdap and a booster dose of MCV4 vaccine, if indicated.Only one dose of MCV is required if the first dose was administered after 16 years of age.

These requirements adopt the most current recommendations from the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.  These new requirements are part of The Immunization Requirements and Recommendations for New School Enterers rule (64CSR95) which was amended in 2011. Pediatricians and physicians who administer childhood vaccines should consider the new requirements when developing a patient’s immunization schedule. For more information contact the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department at 304.234.3682.