Not Vaccinated? No School for North Dakota Kids

When you submit your child’s shot records to their school, make sure they’re up to date.

The North Dakota Department of Health reminds parents that non-vaccinated children will not be allowed at school.

It’s that time of the year and you need to make sure vaccinations are checked off on your back to school list,or else your child won’t be allowed to go.

“They have 30 calendar days to get up to date or at least get into the process,” says Lexi Barber, Immunization Surveillance Coordinator.

The state law requires it.

“In Kindergarten, you need doses of TDap which protects against diphtheria and tetanus. five doses of polio, three doses of hepatitis, two doses of “MMR” which is measles mumps and rubella and then two doses of chicken pox vaccines. And then students starting seventh grade need one dose of TDap is also the diphtheria and tetanus and then one dose of Meningococcal vaccine,” Barber says.

You can see the official list here.

The North Dakota Department of Health says this has always been enforced and they’re hoping schools will continue to follow the law.

And so does Kelley, who’s most cautious around her youngest son.

“He’s more susceptible to get something from someone who doesn’t vaccinate their child,” says Kelley Heley.

But in the state of North Dakota, parents do have the option to exempt their child from vaccinations, if they go through the health department.

“Parents do have that option but we really encourage kids to get up to date on their vaccinations because these are really kind of scary diseases and they can easily be prevented by a vaccine,” says Barber.

These requirements are for both public and private schools.

The “Vaccines for Children Program” offers vaccinations for free, if you can’t afford it.

For more information on the requirements you can visit this website.