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Immunization resources for school and childcare entry

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Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW) highlights the importance of adolescent immunizations. Vaccines can help keep preteens and teens stay healthy. Make sure they’re protected against preventable diseases like meningitis, HPV, whooping cough, flu and COVID-19. Schedule their vaccine appointments today!

Visit the Shots for School CDPH page for information on immunization laws and required vaccinations for students in California.​

California school immunization law outlines the immunizations required for school and childcare entry. Please encourage parents to make sure their children receive all the CDC-recommended vaccines, in addition to the ones required for school and childcare entry. These resources will help schools to comply with California immunization requirements and complete California school immunization records.

Which vaccines are required for school?

Immunization resources

California School Immunization Report

Per law, all childcare facilities and schools with children in Pre-kindergarten/childcare (ages 2-5 years), TK/Kindergarten, or 7th grade are required to assess and annually report the immunization status of children admitted each fall. 

See Immunization Reporting

Instructions for Immunization Assessment

Pre-K | TK/K | 7th

Reporting site

Annual school reports are submitted at CAIR Hub. Reports for all grades (Pre-K, TK/K, and 7th grade) are submitted at the same website and require a registration process. 

CAIR Hub

Online Training Modules 

Learn how to gather information necessary to report immunization information, complete the Immunization Assessment Worksheet and report your immunization information on the reporting website.

School and Childcare Rooster Lookup (SCRL)

The new School and Childcare Rooster Lookup (SCRL) tool allows school and childcare staff to check if children meet immunization requirements based on records found in the California Immunization Registry (CAIR). It can help determine which students are up to date and can be admitted and which students are overdue. You can register for SCRL at CAIR Hub. 

See SCRL FAQ’s

All new medical exemptions for school and childcare entry must be issued through the CAIR-ME website. Medical exemptions can only be issued by MDs or DOs licensed in California and must meet applicable criteria.

Existing medical exemptions issued before 2021:

  •  A medical exemption remains valid until the earliest of:
    • When the child enrolls in the next grade span (TK/K-6th grade or 7th-12th grade).
    • The expiration date in a temporary medical exemption.
    • Revocation of the exemption because the issuing physician has been subject to disciplinary action from the physician’s licensing entity.
  • Allows CDPH to revoke exemptions issued in CAIR-ME and parents to appeal the revocation.
  • Prevents physicians from submitting new MEs if they are on probation or have a pending accusation for immunization-related practices or are deemed a public health risk. 

See Medical exemption FAQs

Medical Exemption Training

Visit this interactive training module to learn how to verify and process medical exemptions in CAIR-ME. 

Student immunization records

If a parent or guardian cannot find a student’s immunization record, here are a few places to start: 

  • You can get a digital copy of the immunization record from the Digital Vaccine Record Portal: Request Record

(Note: If the digital vaccine record is not complete, the provider might not have submitted all your child's vaccinations to the California Immunization Registry (CAIR). We recommend contacting the provider to have them submit the record to the registry.)

  • Doctor's office or clinic where shots were given most recently.
  • Schools that the child attended previously.
  • California Immunization Registry (CAIR). Find out if a child's records are included in the immunization registry. 
  • The Travel and Immunization Clinic charges a $5.00 fee for a hard copy of the immunization records. Phone: (408) 792-5200

Immunization record translations

If a parent needs their child’s record translated, please refer them to their doctor or community clinic.

Handouts for parents

AB No. 659, the Cancer Prevention Act, requires public and private schools to notify families of 6th graders about human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization guidelines. Children aged 9 to 12 years are recommended to receive two doses of the HPV vaccine, with the second dose given before the start of 8th grade. 

See Cancer Prevention Act for more information and resources

Tools for Schools

  • Immunization Handbook (Blue Book): The 12th edition of the California Immunization Handbook reviews school immunization requirements, staff responsibilities, procedures for evaluation, and reporting obligations. Access an electronic version. 

See shotsforschool.org for more tools and information  

CDPH reporting webinars

These recorded webinars demonstrate how school staff and childcare facilities will register and login to the new immunization reporting site and submit students' immunization status.​

School personnel 10/4/23
​​​​​Childcare personnel 10/11/23

Materials order form

Use this form to order materials only if you are a healthcare provider located in the County of Santa Clara. If you are located outside of the County of Santa Clara and would like to order these materials, contact your local health department.

For the items you want to order, enter your desired quantity, noting the maximum units allowed for each item in a single order.

CHILDCARE AND SCHOOL

County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Immunization Program

150 W. Tasman Dr. 
1st Floor
San Jose, CA 95134
United States

Phone: (408) 970-2870  
Fax: (408) 947-8752
[email protected]