Student Immunization Reminders 23-24

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  • Immunization Requirements

    Get ready for the new school year - make sure your child is up-to-date on vaccines!

    South Carolina law requires all students attending daycare or school to be immunized, with three types of allowed exemptions. These requirements apply to all public school students, including Aiken Innovate. All students must have a valid SC Immunization Certificate or an allowed exemption on file at school.

    Please click here for 2023-2024 Childcare and School Immunization Requirements

    REMINDER: A Tdap booster received on or after the 10th birthday is required for all students entering seventh grade. 

    South Carolina Certificate of Immunization

    The SC Certificate of Immunization is the official record of immunization for childcare and school attendance in South Carolina. It may be obtained from your child's medical provider or the South Carolina Department of Health. If your child is catching up and the certificate has an expiration date, students may attend daycare or school no more than 30 days past the expiration date.

    If your child has an immunization record from another state which meets SC immunization requirements for their grade, school nurses may issue a SC Certificate of Immunization for your child. Immunization certificates are issued using SIMON, the State Online Immunization Network. Parental permission is required for school nurses to enter your child's immunization record into SIMON. 

    South Carolina allows three types of immunization exemptions. They are medical, religious, and special exemptions.

    Medical Exemption

    1. A medical exemption can only be issued by a licensed physician or his or her representative and is documented on the Immunation Certificate.

    2. Medical exemptions can be temporary or permanent. If a child has a temporary exemption, they can attend school or daycare for no more than 30 days past the expiration date.

    Religious Exemption

    A religious exemption is only issued by DHEC health departments. The religious exemption may be granted to any student whose parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis signs and has notarized the appropriate section of the South Carolina Certificate of Religious Exemption.

    Note: In the event of a disease outbreak, students with exemptions may be excluded from school if they are not vaccinated against the disease.

    Special Exemption

    A special exemption is only issued by school staff. It can only be issued once by a school district and is valid for 30 calendar days. The purpose of this exemption is to allow time for immunization records to be transferred from a previous school or allow students to obtain the required vaccines.

    Please contact your school nurse if you have questions about immunization requirements.