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District of Columbia Immunization Attendance Policy

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Schools | Families | Additional Information

To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, all students must be fully immunized. Immunizations are the best defense against some of the most common and sometimes deadly infectious diseases. All students must have up-to-date immunization certification on file with the school or they will not be allowed to attend school or school activities until the immunization certification is submitted to the school. Review this page to guarantee your students are ready for school.

IMMUNIZATION ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR

FIND A FREE VACCINATION OPPORTUNITY NEAR YOU!

  • Mobile Vaccination Units – DC Health has placed free mobile medical units at schools and additional sites at recreation centers, COVID Centers, and other community locations in all eight wards. Dates and locations can be found here. 
  • COVID Centers – The COVID-19 vaccine is available for free to any individual age 6 months and older at the District’s COVID Centers located in all eight wards. More information on accessing the COVID-19 vaccine is available on the District’s coronavirus website.

Information for Schools

District law and regulations require all schools in the District of Columbia, including private, parochial and independent schools, to verify student compliance with the immunization requirements as part of enrollment and attendance. If a student is not compliant, the school must immediately notify the parent, guardian, or adult student in writing of the missing immunization(s). If the student does not come into compliance within a 20-school day period, the school must remove the student from school until the immunization certification is secured by the school. Please refer to the August 2022 notice from the Deputy Mayor for Education at the top of this page regarding the enforcement timeline for the 2022-23 school year.

All public and public charter schools are required to implement the immunization attendance policy. OSSE has developed and revised the following resources to support schools with implementing the immunization attendance policy:

Information for Families

Immunizations and regular visits to the physician help protect a student’s health and readiness to learn. Schools are required to verify every student’s immunization compliance as part of enrollment and attendance. All students must be up to date on their immunizations or risk being removed from school.

The following documents offer more information and resources for families:

If families need access to health insurance, please visit the DC Health Link website or contact the Citywide Call Center by dialing 3-1-1.

For more information on health forms required for school attendance, please visit the OSSE Student Health Form Requirements for School Attendance page.

Important coronavirus (COVID-19) note for families: Schools are undertaking extraordinary efforts to ensure safe, healthy environments for students, staff and families during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery periods. Ensuring that all students are up-to-date on their immunizations is an essential part of that commitment to health and safety. To support the health of students, staff and the broader community, schools must ensure that all students are fully immunized. Health care providers are taking extra precautions to ensure health and safety in their offices. Such practices may include screening patients, parents/guardians and staff for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to arrival, separating sick and well patients, implementing enhanced cleaning protocols, and limiting the number of adults that may accompany a child to an appointment. If families have questions about the COVID-19 health and safety practices of their health care provider, they are encouraged to call their provider ahead of their appointment and ask.

Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, the COVID-19 vaccine is required for school enrollment and attendance in the District of Columbia for all students who are of an age for which there is a COVID-19 vaccination fully approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

All DC residents age 6 months and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For COVID-19 vaccine opportunities, visit vaccinate.dc.gov or call the COVID-19 Call Center at 1-855-363-0333. For deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals, dial 711 for TTY service. For any questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine program, please email [email protected].

Noncompliance Complaint Portal

This portal allows parents, guardians or school staff to report a school’s noncompliance with the District’s Immunization Attendance Policy to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Once OSSE receives a complaint, OSSE will acknowledge its receipt and share it with the head of school and the school’s data manager using the Quickbase application. The portal will be programmed to notify the Head of School, the data manager, the attendance manager, and the Immunization Point of Contact (POC), who are expected to acknowledge receipt of the information and, if needed, take any follow-up corrective action. Schools with multiple complaints or unacknowledged complaints will receive direct outreach for technical assistance by OSSE. 

The portal will enable individuals to file a complaint on the following Immunization Attendance Policy  issues: 

  • The school did not provide proper notification prior to excluding students; 
  • The school did not exclude students who were out of compliance with the Immunization Attendance Policy; 
  • The school excluded students who were in compliance with the Immunization Attendance Policy; or 
  • The school inequitably excluded some, but not all, students who were out of compliance with the Immunization Attendance Policy.  

Complete the online form here.

Additional Information

Schools may contact their local education agency (LEA) central office or OSSE at [email protected] with questions regarding the immunization attendance policy.

Schools may contact DC Health with questions regarding immunization certification requirements, data, and locations where students can receive pediatric immunizations. Schools participating in the DC Health School Health Services Program may rely on support from their health suite personnel to help communicate and implement pediatric immunization requirements.

OSSE is committed to helping child development facilities, LEAs, schools and families plan effectively to remain open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring all students are up to date on their routine pediatric immunizations before returning to school is an essential component for the COVID-19 recovery period. OSSE's COVID-19 Guidance and Resources page offers resources, information and supports related to maintaining healthy and safe school and child care environments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators, families, and the public may find information about public health and safety at coronavirus.dc.gov.

Important note: The flu vaccine (flu shot) is not mandatory for school, but it is strongly recommended for all students and staff. Schools should continue to emphasize the importance and benefits of securing the flu shot for all families each fall and winter season. For individuals looking for where to secure a flu shot or other vaccines, please refer to the DC Health pediatric clinic locations or adult immunization programs.

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