Immunization Priority: What's New in 2023 | Five Things to Know | Key Dates & Deadlines | Key Resources

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What's New in 2023

• School Immunization Policy: This updated policy and supplemental resources provide detailed instructions for schools to enforce immunization compliance in the 2023-24 school year. Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, only students enrolled in grades pre-K 3, kindergarten, 7, or 11 who remain non-compliant after Oct. 5 (also referred to as “Count Day”) will be eligible for temporary exclusion from school until immunization certification is met. Students in all other grades must also be compliant with their immunization certification but will not be eligible for temporary exclusion due to non-compliance. Schools may refer to the School Immunization Policy for full details. 
• Immunization Attendance Coding: There are two attendance codes for implementing the School Immunization Policy to be used when non-compliant students in select grades are temporarily excluded from school (unexcused absence – immunization: AFUI) and when reclassifying those days missed upon the student’s return (excused absence – immunization: AFEI). Schools may refer to the School Immunization Policy for full details on how and when to use these two attendance codes.  

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Five Things to Know

1. The Immunization of School Students Act of 1979 requires schools to verify immunization certification for all students as part of enrollment and attendance. Public and public charter schools shall follow the District’s School Immunization Policy. This policy includes instructions and key dates for schools to adopt school-level processes and protocols for frequently reviewing student immunization compliance, notifying parents/guardians of missing immunizations, temporarily excluding non-compliant students from in-person attendance in select grades, and allowing students to return to school after they were temporarily excluded.  
2. Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, only students enrolled in grades pre-K 3, kindergarten, 7, or 11 who remain out of compliance after Oct. 5 (also referred to as “Count Day”) will be eligible for temporary exclusion from school until immunization certification is met. Students in all other grades must also be compliant with their immunization certification but will not be eligible for temporary exclusion due to non-compliance. Schools may refer to the School Immunization Policy for full details.   
3. There are two attendance codes for implementing the School Immunization Policy to be used when non-compliant students in select grades are temporarily excluded from school (unexcused absence – immunization: AFUI) and when reclassifying those days missed upon the student’s return (excused absence – immunization: AFEI). Schools may refer to the School Immunization Policy for full details on how and when to use these two attendance codes.  
4. Schools are strongly encouraged to begin reviewing immunization compliance and notifying non-compliant families over the spring and summer in order to allow plenty of time for families to make appointments and secure any missing immunizations before the 2023-24 school year. Schools can access immunization compliance of their current students via DC Health’s Immunization Compliance Portal (ICP) and enter new records via the School Health Management (SHM, used by Children’s School Services nurses) or the District of Columbia Immunization Information System (DOCIIS). Schools can access immunization compliance of their prospective students for the 2023-24 school year via the Early Access to Immunizations App.  
5. Schools play an important role in keeping students safe, healthy, and ready to learn. Similar to COVID-19, many infectious diseases, such as measles, are highly contagious and dangerous for our youngest District residents. In order to prevent the spread of these infectious diseases and to keep students healthy and in school, it is vital that all students are fully immunized while attending school. Immunizations are the best defense against some of the most common and sometimes deadly infectious diseases. 

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Key Dates & Deadlines 

• June 16: Review the School Immunization Policy and supplemental resource materials in full. Contact [email protected] with questions on the School Immunization Policy. Contact DC Health with questions on specific immunization requirements, immunization records, and immunization data for District children. See the immunization start of school checklist and School Immunization Policy for full details. 
• June 16: Assemble School Health Teams and begin reviewing school-level immunization compliance. Send notifications to all families regarding the new policy coming next school year. Utilize DC Health’s Immunization Compliance Portal (ICP) to review immunization compliance of current students and utilize the Early Access to Immunizations App to access immunization compliance for students planning to attend in the 2023-24 school year. Enter immunization records into School Health Management (SHM) or District of Columbia Immunization Information System (DOCIIS). See the immunization start of school checklist and School Immunization Policy for full details. 
• June 16 through the beginning of the school year: Identify non-compliant students and notify families of any missing immunizations, giving them ample time to secure the necessary immunization documentation and present it to the school. See the immunization start of school checklist and School Immunization Policy for full details. 
• Start of the 2023-24 school year: Implement the School Immunization Policy including identifying, notifying, and temporarily excluding non-compliant students enrolled in grades Pre-K 3, kindergarten, 7, and 11 from school after Count Day in accordance with the timeline specified by OSSE. See the immunization start of school checklist and School Immunization Policy for full details. 
• Webinar: Schools and LEAs may access the OSSE immunization page for a pre-recorded webinar on the immunization policy. Information will also be provided for schools during the OSSE health and safety guidance calls. A separate training for the Early Access to Immunization Data Application will be offered and recorded for those who are not able to attend. Contact [email protected] for more information.  

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Key Resources

• OSSE Immunization Landing Page - The OSSE immunization webpage provides multiple resources for schools and families on enforcement of immunization requirements. 

For questions, please contact [email protected].

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