Arkansas school vaccine requirements, exemptions & schedule
United States · AR
Last updated: 2026-11-01
💉 Vaccination Schedule
2 months
4 months
6 months
May be given at 6–18 months
(opens in a new tab) 💉 Hib Dose 3Depending on product
(opens in a new tab) 💉 PCV (Pneumococcal) Dose 3 (opens in a new tab) 💉 Rotavirus Dose 3Depending on product
(opens in a new tab) 💉 Hepatitis B Dose 36–18 months
(opens in a new tab) 💉 Influenza AnnualFrom 6 months annually
(opens in a new tab) 💉 COVID-19 Per current guidanceFrom 6 months
(opens in a new tab)12–15 months
15–18 months
4–6 years
11–12 years
🏫 School & Institutional Requirements
▶ 🏫 Public Schools (K–12)
Arkansas Code §6-18-702 requires DTaP (4 doses if 4th dose after age 4, otherwise 5), Polio (4 doses, last after age 4), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses), and Tdap (age 11+). Hepatitis A required for K-6.
▶ 🏛 Private Schools
Arkansas Code §6-18-702 applies to all schools including private.
▶ 👶 Daycare / Child Care
Licensed child-care facilities require age-appropriate DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B.
▶ 🎓 Postsecondary / University
No statewide mandate. Most Arkansas colleges recommend but do not require vaccines beyond standard CDC guidance.
No specific provincial vaccine mandates at this level.
▶ 🏥 Healthcare Workers
Arkansas follows CDC recommendations for healthcare personnel: Hepatitis B, influenza (annual), MMR, varicella, and Tdap.
📊 Required Vaccines by Setting
| DTaP / Tdap | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Hepatitis A | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Hepatitis B | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Hib | — | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Influenza | — | — | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| MMR | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| PCV (Pneumococcal) | — | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Polio (IPV) | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Varicella | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
📝 Vaccine Exemptions
🏥 Medical
AvailableFor medical contraindications
Documentation: Parent/guardian completes the Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application with a notarized signature, attaches a physician's letter stating the medical reason, and submits it to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). The ADH Medical Director decides the request. After approval, the parent/guardian notifies the school.
Renewal: Application must be submitted each school year. For 2026-2027, approved exemptions run from the start of the fall 2026 session through the summer sessions of 2027.
Approving authority: Arkansas Department of Health Medical Director
🔗 2026-2027 Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application Packet (Childcare or Pre-K - 12th Grade) → (opens in a new tab)Link verified on 2026-11-01
🙏 Religious
AvailableFor religious beliefs
Documentation: Parent/guardian completes the Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application with a notarized signature, completes the required educational activity (reading the enclosed Vaccine Information Statements) and submits the application to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). After approval, the parent/guardian notifies the school.
Renewal: Application must be submitted each school year. For 2026-2027, approved exemptions run from the start of the fall 2026 session through the summer sessions of 2027.
Approving authority: Arkansas Department of Health
🔗 2026-2027 Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application Packet (Childcare or Pre-K - 12th Grade) → (opens in a new tab)Link verified on 2026-11-01
✋ Personal Belief
AvailableFor philosophical or personal convictions
Documentation: Parent/guardian completes the Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application with a notarized signature, completes the required educational activity (reading the enclosed Vaccine Information Statements) and submits the application to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). After approval, the parent/guardian notifies the school.
Renewal: Application must be submitted each school year. For 2026-2027, approved exemptions run from the start of the fall 2026 session through the summer sessions of 2027.
Approving authority: Arkansas Department of Health
🔗 2026-2027 Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application Packet (Childcare or Pre-K - 12th Grade) → (opens in a new tab)Link verified on 2026-11-01
🏠 Homeschool Information
Requirements
Arkansas does not require immunization for homeschool students. Under Arkansas Code §6-18-702, only students attending public and private K-12 schools must provide proof of immunization.
Reporting
No immunization reporting required for homeschool students.
Exemptions
Not applicable — immunization statute does not extend to homeschool.
Notes
Arkansas homeschool law (§6-15-501 et seq.) does not reference immunization. The immunization requirement (§6-18-702) is specifically for 'kindergarten through grade twelve' students at public and private schools.
🔗 Official Government Resources
📅 Recent Legislative & Policy Changes
2026-07-01
Arkansas immunization data added to Parent Decision Center.
🔬 Related Vaccine Evidence Pages
Each card links to the full VaccineDataNavigator evidence page — including clinical trials, data, pharmacovigilance, ingredients, and references.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What vaccines are required for kindergarten and school in Arkansas?
Arkansas Code §6-18-702 requires DTaP (4 doses if 4th dose after age 4, otherwise 5), Polio (4 doses, last after age 4), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses), and Tdap (age 11+). Hepatitis A required for K-6. Source: Arkansas Department of Health.
▶ What vaccines does Arkansas require for daycare and preschool?
Licensed child-care facilities require age-appropriate DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B.
▶ Does Arkansas allow religious or personal-belief vaccine exemptions?
Arkansas allows medical, religious and personal-belief exemptions. Exemptions are granted by the Arkansas Department of Health, and every application requires a notarized parent/guardian signature.
▶ How do I get a vaccine exemption in Arkansas?
Medical: Parent/guardian completes the Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application with a notarized signature, attaches a physician's letter stating the medical reason, and submits it to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). The ADH Medical Director decides the request. After approval, the parent/guardian notifies the school. Religious: Parent/guardian completes the Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application with a notarized signature, completes the required educational activity (reading the enclosed Vaccine Information Statements) and submits the application to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). After approval, the parent/guardian notifies the school. Personal-belief: Parent/guardian completes the Arkansas Immunization Exemption Application with a notarized signature, completes the required educational activity (reading the enclosed Vaccine Information Statements) and submits the application to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). After approval, the parent/guardian notifies the school. Official forms and links for every state and province are in the exemption forms directory.
▶ What vaccines are required for college in Arkansas?
No statewide mandate. Most Arkansas colleges recommend but do not require vaccines beyond standard CDC guidance.