Texas school vaccine requirements, exemptions & schedule
United States · TX
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)
Texas Administrative Code Title 25 §97.61-§97.72 requires DTaP (5 doses), Polio (4 doses), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses or proof of disease), Tdap (grade 7), Meningococcal (grades 7-12), Hepatitis A (K-12, phased), and PCV (K-5). Texas is one of the few states that requires PCV for elementary school entry.
▶ 🏛 Private Schools
Texas Administrative Code §97.63 requires private schools to comply with the same immunization requirements as public schools.
▶ 👶 Daycare / Child Care
Texas Administrative Code §97.63 and §746.3611 require licensed child-care facilities to verify age-appropriate DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B for all children in care.
▶ 🎓 Postsecondary / University
Texas Education Code §51.9192 requires all new college students to receive meningococcal vaccination (MenACWY) or sign a waiver. Students younger than 22 living on campus must provide proof of vaccination. Additionally, Texas Administrative Code §97.64 recommends Hepatitis B for health-science students.
▶ 🏥 Healthcare Workers
Texas healthcare workers should follow CDC recommendations including Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella, and Tdap. No state-level mandate beyond federal OSHA standards.
📊 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: Submit written statement from a licensed physician (MD/DO) stating the medical contraindication. Submit to school.
Renewal: Every year, counted from the date the physician signed, unless the physician specifies a lifelong condition.
Approving authority: Licensed physician (MD or DO)
🔗 Texas DSHS Immunization Exemptions (no state form) → (opens in a new tab)Link verified on 2026-11-01
🙏 Religious
AvailableFor religious beliefs
Documentation: Parent/guardian completes the official DSHS affidavit form (Stock No. F11-11755), which can be downloaded from DSHS or requested from DSHS. The form covers reasons of conscience including religious beliefs. The affidavit must be notarized and must be submitted to the school within 90 days of being notarized.
Renewal: Valid for two years from the date of notarization. Must be submitted to the school within 90 days of being notarized.
Approving authority: Parent/guardian or individual (age 18+)
🔗 Affidavit: Exemption for Reasons of Conscience (Stock F11-11755) → (opens in a new tab)Link verified on 2026-11-01
✋ Personal Belief
AvailableFor philosophical or personal convictions
Documentation: Texas uses a unified notarized affidavit for all reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs and philosophical objections. The same form is used for both.
Renewal: Valid for two years from the date of notarization. Must be submitted to the school within 90 days of being notarized.
Approving authority: Parent/guardian or individual (age 18+)
🔗 Affidavit: Exemption for Reasons of Conscience (Stock F11-11755) → (opens in a new tab)Link verified on 2026-11-01
🏠 Homeschool Information
Requirements
Homeschool students in Texas are not subject to the same immunization requirements as public school students. Texas treats homeschools as private schools under Texas Education Code §25.086(a)(1), and the Texas Administrative Code (25 TAC §97.61-§97.72) immunization requirements apply to 'students in public or private schools.' Private schools 'shall' maintain immunization records, but enforcement against homeschools operating as private schools is minimal. In practice, most Texas homeschool families do not submit immunization records.
Reporting
No immunization reporting required for homeschool students. Private schools must maintain immunization records internally. Since homeschools operate as private schools, they theoretically must maintain records, but there are no reporting mechanisms or enforcement procedures. In practice, this is not enforced against homeschools.
Exemptions
Medical exemptions (physician signed statement) and conscientious exemptions (including religious beliefs) are available. Texas DSHS provides official affidavit forms for exemptions. Since homeschools are treated as private schools, the public school exemption mechanism is not directly applicable — homeschool families maintain their own records independently.
Notes
Texas treats homeschools as private schools, but the immunization requirements for private schools are focused on record-keeping rather than compliance verification. This creates an ambiguous situation where the law technically applies but is practically unenforced. The Texas Home School Coalition recommends maintaining records of exemption decisions but notes that the state has consistently avoided enforcing immunization requirements against homeschool families.
🔗 Official Government Resources
📅 Recent Legislative & Policy Changes
2026-07-01
Texas 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 Texas?
Texas Administrative Code Title 25 §97.61-§97.72 requires DTaP (5 doses), Polio (4 doses), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Varicella (2 doses or proof of disease), Tdap (grade 7), Meningococcal (grades 7-12), Hepatitis A (K-12, phased), and PCV (K-5). Texas is one of the few states that requires PCV for elementary school entry. Source: Texas Department of State Health Services.
▶ What vaccines does Texas require for daycare and preschool?
Texas Administrative Code §97.63 and §746.3611 require licensed child-care facilities to verify age-appropriate DTaP, Polio, Hib, PCV, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B for all children in care.
▶ Does Texas allow religious or personal-belief vaccine exemptions?
Texas allows medical, religious and personal-belief exemptions. Uses a unified notarized 'reasons of conscience' affidavit for non-medical exemptions.
▶ How do I get a vaccine exemption in Texas?
Medical: Submit written statement from a licensed physician (MD/DO) stating the medical contraindication. Submit to school. Religious: Parent/guardian completes the official DSHS affidavit form (Stock No. F11-11755), which can be downloaded from DSHS or requested from DSHS. The form covers reasons of conscience including religious beliefs. The affidavit must be notarized and must be submitted to the school within 90 days of being notarized. Personal-belief: Texas uses a unified notarized affidavit for all reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs and philosophical objections. The same form is used for both. Official forms and links for every state and province are in the exemption forms directory.
▶ What vaccines are required for college in Texas?
Texas Education Code §51.9192 requires all new college students to receive meningococcal vaccination (MenACWY) or sign a waiver. Students younger than 22 living on campus must provide proof of vaccination. Additionally, Texas Administrative Code §97.64 recommends Hepatitis B for health-science students.