Colorado school vaccine requirements, exemptions & schedule
United States · CO
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)
Colorado Board of Health Rules 6 CCR 1009-2 require DTaP (5 doses), Polio (4 doses), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses), and Tdap (grades 6-12). Colorado has a personal belief exemption and is less restrictive than some other states.
▶ 🏛 Private Schools
Colorado's immunization requirements apply to all schools including private and parochial, but enforcement varies.
▶ 👶 Daycare / Child Care
Licensed child-care facilities require DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV (age-appropriate), MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis A according to Colorado Child Care Licensing regulations.
▶ 🎓 Postsecondary / University
Colorado does not have a statewide college immunization mandate. Individual institutions set their own policies. The University of Colorado requires MMR (2 doses).
▶ 🏥 Healthcare Workers
Colorado follows CDC recommendations. Hospitals must offer Hepatitis B vaccine and influenza vaccine per federal OSHA requirements.
📊 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: Submit form signed by a licensed physician (MD/DO), advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant to the school.
Renewal: Permanent conditions: submitted once, with no annual renewal. Temporary conditions: ends on the "temporary until" date the provider sets.
Approving authority: MD, DO, APRN, or PA
🔗 I want to obtain a Certificate of Medical Exemption (CDPHE) → (opens in a new tab)🙏 Religious
AvailableFor religious beliefs
Documentation: Parent/guardian must submit the non-medical exemption form. Requires either a signature from a healthcare provider who has provided vaccine education OR an online education module completion certificate.
Renewal: New certificate every school year for K-12; it expires June 30. Before kindergarten it must be resubmitted each time vaccines are due.
Approving authority: Parent/guardian with provider signature or education module completion
🔗 Nonmedical Exemption (CDPHE) → (opens in a new tab)✋ Personal Belief
AvailableFor philosophical or personal convictions
Documentation: Same process as religious exemption. Colorado uses a unified non-medical exemption form.
Renewal: New certificate every school year for K-12; it expires June 30. Before kindergarten it must be resubmitted each time vaccines are due.
Approving authority: Parent/guardian with provider signature or education module completion
🔗 Nonmedical Exemption (CDPHE) → (opens in a new tab)🏠 Homeschool Information
Requirements
Colorado does not require immunization for homeschool students. Under Colorado Revised Statutes §25-4-901 et seq., immunization requirements apply to students 'attending any school in the state,' but homeschools operating under Colorado's homeschool statute (CRS §22-33-104.5) are specifically exempted.
Reporting
No immunization reporting required for homeschool students.
Exemptions
Not applicable — homeschool students are not subject to school immunization requirements.
Notes
Colorado law explicitly states that homeschool programs are 'not a school' under the immunization statute. Students enrolled in public school part-time programs must comply with immunization requirements only while on school premises.
🔗 Official Government Resources
📅 Recent Legislative & Policy Changes
2026-07-01
Colorado 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 Colorado?
Colorado Board of Health Rules 6 CCR 1009-2 require DTaP (5 doses), Polio (4 doses), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses), and Tdap (grades 6-12). Colorado has a personal belief exemption and is less restrictive than some other states. Source: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.
▶ What vaccines does Colorado require for daycare and preschool?
Licensed child-care facilities require DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV (age-appropriate), MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis A according to Colorado Child Care Licensing regulations.
▶ Does Colorado allow religious or personal-belief vaccine exemptions?
Colorado allows medical, religious and personal-belief exemptions. Non-medical exemptions (religious and philosophical) require either a healthcare provider signature confirming vaccine education OR completion of the state's online education module.
▶ How do I get a vaccine exemption in Colorado?
Medical: Submit form signed by a licensed physician (MD/DO), advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant to the school. Religious: Parent/guardian must submit the non-medical exemption form. Requires either a signature from a healthcare provider who has provided vaccine education OR an online education module completion certificate. Personal-belief: Same process as religious exemption. Colorado uses a unified non-medical exemption form. Official forms and links for every state and province are in the exemption forms directory.
▶ What vaccines are required for college in Colorado?
Colorado does not have a statewide college immunization mandate. Individual institutions set their own policies. The University of Colorado requires MMR (2 doses).