Every child in the state shall be immunized against vaccine preventable diseases caused by infectious agents in accordance with the following immunization schedule.

1. (1) In accordance with the Texas Department of Health Immunization Schedule as informed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendations and adopted by the Texas Board of Health and published in the Texas Register annually, for all vaccines herein, vaccine doses administered less than or equal to four days before the minimum interval or age shall be counted as valid.

2. (2) A child or student shall show acceptable evidence of vaccination prior to entry, attendance, or transfer to a child-care facility or public or private elementary or secondary school, or institution of higher education.

   1. (A) Children enrolled in child-care facilities, pre-kindergarten, or early childhood programs shall have the following.

      1. (i) Age-appropriate vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and varicella in accordance with the Texas Department of Health Immunization Schedule as informed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendations and adopted by the Texas Board of Health and published in the Texas Register annually. A copy of the current schedule is available at www.ImmunizeTexas.com or by mail to the Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756.
      2. (ii) Hepatitis A. Age-appropriate vaccination against hepatitis A for children attending a child-care facility, pre-kindergarten or early childhood programs located in a high incidence geographic area as designated by the department. A list of geographic areas for which hepatitis A is mandated shall be published in the Texas Register on an annual basis and is available at www.ImmunizeTexas.com or by mail to the Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756.

   2. (B) Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade shall have the following vaccines.

      1. (i) Poliomyelitis.

         1. (I) Upon entry into kindergarten, students are required to have four doses of polio vaccine one of which must have been received on or after the fourth birthday. Or, if the third dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday only three doses are required. If any combination of four doses of OPV and IPV was received before four years of age no additional dose if required.
         2. (II) Polio vaccine is not required for persons eighteen years of age or older.

      2. (ii) Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis.

         1. (I) Upon entry into kindergarten, students are required to have five doses of a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis containing vaccine in any combination unless the fourth dose was received on or after the fourth birthday in which case only four doses are required.
         2. (II) Students who started their vaccinations after age seven are required to have at least three doses of a tetanus-diphtheria containing vaccine. Any combination of three doses of a tetanus-diphtheria containing vaccine will meet this requirement. One dose of a tetanus-diphtheria containing vaccine is required within the last ten years.
      3. (iii) Measles. Two doses of measles-containing vaccine are required. The first dose shall be administered on or after the first birthday.
      4. (iv) Rubella. One dose of rubella vaccine received on or after the first birthday is required.
      5. (v) Mumps. One dose of mumps vaccine received on or after the first birthday is required.

      6. (vi) Hepatitis B.

         1. (I) Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine are required for the following grades for the following school years:

            (-a-) 2004-2005 for kindergarten through fifth grade and seventh through tenth grade;

            (-b-) 2005-2006 for kindergarten through eleventh grade; and

            (-c-) thereafter, beginning in school year 2006-2007, for all students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade.

         2. (II) In some circumstances, the United States Food and Drug Administration may approve the use of an alternative dosage schedule for an existing vaccine. These alternative regimens may be used to meet this requirement only when alternative regimens are fully documented. Such documentation must include vaccine manufacturer and dosage received for each dose of that vaccine.

      7. (vii) Varicella. One dose of varicella vaccine received on or after the first birthday is required for the following grades for the following school years:

         1. (I) 2004-2005 for kindergarten through fourth grade and seventh through tenth grade;
         2. (II) 2005-2006 for kindergarten through fifth grade and seventh through eleventh grade; and
         3. (III) thereafter, beginning in school year 2006-2007, for all students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. Two doses are required if the child was thirteen years old or older at the time the first dose of varicella vaccine was received.
      8. (viii) Hepatitis A. Upon entry into kindergarten through third grade, two doses of hepatitis A vaccine are required for students attending a school located in a high incidence geographic area as designated by the department. The first dose shall be administered on or after the second birthday. A list of geographic areas for which hepatitis A is mandated shall be published in the Texas Register on an annual basis and is available at www.ImmunizeTexas.com , or by mail request at Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756.

Source Note:The provisions of this §97.63 adopted to be effective April 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 3188.