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In North Carolina, vaccination records are checked when a child is enrolled in a child care facility or school. Children are not allowed to attend school (whether public, private or religious) or a child care facility unless they have received all immunizations appropriate for their age.
We are writing to notify you of an extension to the current documentation deadlines for immunizations and school health assessments, pursuant to a new Executive Order issued by Governor Roy Cooper and a State Health Director Memo issued by State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson.
The deadline to submit proof of required immunizations and school health assessments has been extended to Dec. 30, 2020 (or for new students, documents must be presented within 30 calendar days of their first day of school). After this point a student must be excluded from in-person and remote learning until compliant with requirements. Schools will have until February 1, 2021 to file annual immunization reports.
While it is critically important that children are vaccinated and heath care settings are low risk, this extension was made due to ongoing concerns and reports that students and families are experiencing continued barriers to completing immunization and school health assessment requirements as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new orders issued today provide additional time for families. This extension grants all of us the pressing opportunity to continue our work together to get children and adolescents caught up on vaccinations and well child checks as soon as possible.
Previously, an Executive Order issued by Governor Roy Cooper and a State Health Director Memo issued by State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson delayed documentation deadlines for proof-of-immunization and health assessment requirements for school and child-care facilities until October 30, 2020.
The Executive Order and State Health Director Memo applies to students enrolled in public, private or religious educational institutions, including child care facilities and K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities. Whether children are home-schooled, attend school in-person or by remote learning, they are required by state law to be immunized based on their age for certain vaccinations as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More information on North Carolina’s requirements for vaccines can be found on the NCDHHS website. It is strongly encouraged for families to make arrangements for children to receive their required vaccinations as soon as possible.
North Carolina Public Health’s Immunization Branch also offers comprehensive guidance on immunization recommendations as well as advice for families on navigating access issues during COVID-19.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership.
Immunization records are checked at the following times:
Please review the FAQs below before contacting the N.C. Immunization Branch. If you do not find a response to your question, please send your question in an e-mail to the Data Exchange Help Desk. The intended audience for this FAQ are provider organizations as well as electronic health records (EHR) vendor personnel.
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1. What are the immunization requirements?
In addition to those vaccines required for school entry, upcoming 12th graders will be required to receive the following vaccine: Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY). The first dose was required prior to entering 7th grade (or by 12 years of age). A booster dose is required for individuals entering the 12th grade (or by 17 years of age). If the first dose is administered on or after the 16th birthday, a booster dose is not required.
2. What does Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY) protect against?
3. How are the vaccine requirements monitored?
All North Carolina public, charter, private, and religious schools are responsible for assessing immunization records and will be required to report the immunization status of 12th graders in their facility yearly.
According to NC G.S. 130A-155(a), no child shall attend a school (pre K-12), whether public, private or religious, unless a certificate of immunization indicating that the child has received the immunizations required by G.S. 130A-152 is presented to the school or facility. Anyone who is not age-appropriately vaccinated on the first day of attendance shall have 30 calendar days to obtain the required immunizations. Upon termination of 30 calendar days, the child shall be excluded from school unless the required immunizations have been obtained.
4. What exemptions to immunizations are allowed in North Carolina?
North Carolina law provides for two types of exemptions from required immunizations. They are medical and religious.
5. How do I show proof of vaccination?
A physician, health clinic or local health department must provide a certificate of immunization to the person who brings the child for immunization. A copy of the certificate of immunization should then be presented to your child’s school to show proof of vaccination.
6. Are there any other shots my child needs?
Yes, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) also recommends the following vaccines: Hepatitis A, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Flu. These vaccines are not required by North Carolina law, but are strongly recommended for adolescents. For more information about these vaccines, talk to your doctor. More information, including a list of all required North Carolina school immunizations, from kindergarten through 12th grade is available at North Carolina Immunization Branch website.
Yes. The most common side effects are mild and include pain and swelling at the site of the injection.
Contact your child’s health care provider or local health department to schedule an appointment to receive MenACWY.
Be sure that the doctor provides a certificate of immunization (shot record) that documents the vaccine has been received. You will need to show proof of vaccination to your child’s school prior to them entering the 12th grade.
9. Where can I get vaccines and how much do they cost?
You can receive immunizations at your doctor’s office or local health department. If your child is insured, your insurance provider may cover the cost of vaccines and their administration. Contact your health care provider to find out how much the vaccines will cost. If your child is 18 years of age or younger, and meets one of the following qualifications, he or she is eligible to receive the vaccines from the state at no cost:
Your child may be eligible for Health Check/Medicaid or N.C. Health Choice, which is a free or low-cost health insurance for children and teens under 19 years of age (up to 21 in some cases). Both Health Check and N.C. Health Choice offer an extensive package of benefits. If you are uninsured, contact your local department of social services to find out if you qualify.
Talk to your school’s nurse, your health care provider or your local health department. You can also call the N.C. Immunization Branch on-call nurse at (919) 707-5575 or go online at North Carolina Immunization Branch website
Certain exemptions to North Carolina’s Immunization Law are allowed.
School Immunization Requirements resources:
Updated: November 2, 2020
