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NC Department of Health and Human Services
Women's and Children's Health Home
 N.C. Public Health Home
 
 
North Carolina Immunization Branch

Schools

North Carolina law requires all children in the state to receive certain immunizations.  Records are checked when children enter school or child care.

6th Grade

Adolescents should be up to date on all the vaccines required for kindergarten entry. In addition, adolescents need a booster dose of the Tdap vaccine if:

  • They attend public school and enter the 6th grade on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid, or
  • They do not attend public school (i.e., private, home-school, non-traditional schools) and are 12 years of age on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.

Required vs. Recommended

North Carolina law requires adolescents receive certain vaccines. But in order to be fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, adolescents should receive all immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccines to protect against the flu, meningitis, HPV and others are available. Learn more on the Immunizations for Adolescents page.

Resources