Mississippi school vaccine requirements, exemptions & schedule
United States · MS
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)
Mississippi Code §41-23-37 and State Board of Health regulations require DTaP (5 doses), Polio (4 doses), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses), and Tdap (grade 7).
▶ 🏛 Private Schools
Mississippi's strict medical-exemption-only policy applies to all public, private, and parochial schools. Mississippi consistently has among the highest school immunization rates in the nation.
▶ 👶 Daycare / Child Care
Licensed child-care facilities require DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis A (age-appropriate) per Mississippi child-care licensing regulations.
▶ 🎓 Postsecondary / University
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning require MMR (2 doses) for all university students. Meningococcal vaccination recommended.
▶ 🏥 Healthcare Workers
Mississippi healthcare workers follow CDC guidelines. Hepatitis B per OSHA standard. Influenza strongly recommended.
📊 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) |
| Meningococcal | — | — | ✓ | 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: A licensed physician (MD/DO) completes a medical exemption request. Before filing, ask the Mississippi State Department of Health's Office of Immunizations for the current form and where it must be sent.
Renewal: Confirm with the Office of Immunizations.
Approving authority: Licensed physician (MD or DO)
🔗 MSDH Vaccine Exemptions → (opens in a new tab)🙏 Religious
Status unclearFor religious beliefs
Could not be confirmed. Ask the Mississippi State Department of Health's Office of Immunizations.
Could not be confirmed. Ask the Mississippi State Department of Health's Office of Immunizations.
✋ Personal Belief
Not AvailableFor philosophical or personal convictions
🏠 Homeschool Information
Requirements
Mississippi does not require immunization for homeschool students. Under Mississippi Code §41-23-37, immunization requirements apply to students 'who seek to enroll in any public or private school,' and homeschool statute §37-13-91 does not classify homeschool programs as schools for immunization purposes.
Reporting
No immunization reporting required for homeschool students. Mississippi is a minimal-regulation homeschool state (annual enrollment certificate only).
Exemptions
Not applicable — homeschool students are exempt. For school-attending students, see the exemption section on this page.
Notes
Mississippi's strict immunization policy for school-attending students makes the homeschool exemption particularly significant. Homeschool families are not subject to the state's no-non-medical-exemptions policy.
🔗 Official Government Resources
📅 Recent Legislative & Policy Changes
2026-07-01
Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi Code §41-23-37 and State Board of Health regulations require DTaP (5 doses), Polio (4 doses), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses), and Tdap (grade 7). Source: Mississippi State Department of Health.
▶ What vaccines does Mississippi require for daycare and preschool?
Licensed child-care facilities require DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis A (age-appropriate) per Mississippi child-care licensing regulations.
▶ Does Mississippi allow religious or personal-belief vaccine exemptions?
Mississippi allows medical exemptions; personal-belief exemptions are not available. A medical exemption is the route this site could confirm. Whether a religious exemption is currently accepted could not be confirmed from the state's pages: ask the Mississippi State Department of Health's Office of Immunizations.
▶ How do I get a vaccine exemption in Mississippi?
Medical: A licensed physician (MD/DO) completes a medical exemption request. Before filing, ask the Mississippi State Department of Health's Office of Immunizations for the current form and where it must be sent. Official forms and links for every state and province are in the exemption forms directory.
▶ What vaccines are required for college in Mississippi?
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning require MMR (2 doses) for all university students. Meningococcal vaccination recommended.