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TENNESSEE IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

The Tennessee Department of Health establishes the immunization requirements for those who attend child care, pre-school, school, and college. The state’s immunization schedule follows the current schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Please visit Tennessee Department of Education's Required Immunizations for more information. 

TENNESSEE COLLEGE IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2 doses of each, normally given together as MMR): if born on or after January 1, 1957 only.
  • Varicella (2 doses or credible history of disease): if born on or after January 1, 1980 only.
  • Hepatitis B (HBV) – only for health science students expected to have patient contact (before patient contact begins).
  • Meningococcal - At a minimum of 1 dose given at 16 years of age or greater if enrolling in public institution for the first time andunder 22 years of age and living in on-campus housing; private institutions set their own requirements for this vaccine.

    • Hepatitis B (HBV)
    • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)
    • Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV)
    • Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) - age younger than 5 years only
    • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - age younger than 5 years only
    • Measles, Mumps, Rubella - 1 dose of each, normally given together as MMR
    • Varicella - 1 dose or credible history of disease
    • Hepatitis A - 1 dose, required by 18 months of age or older
    • Hepatitis B (HBV)
    • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)
    • Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV) - final dose on or after the 4th birthday
    • Measles, Mumps, Rubella - 2 doses of each, usually given together as MMR
    • Varicella - 2 doses or credible history of disease
    • Hepatitis A - total of 2 doses, spaced at least 6 - 18 months apart
    • Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster (Tdap) - evidence of one Tdap dose given any time before 7th grade entry is required regardless of Td history
    • Varicella - 2 doses or credible history of disease


    Update to 7th Grade Chickenpox (Varicella) Immunization Requirements

    • Hepatitis B (HBV)
    • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)
    • Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV - final dose on or after the 4th birthday
    • Measles, Mumps, Rubella - 2 doses of each, normally given together as MMR
    • Varicella - 2 doses or credible history of disease
    • New students entering grades other than 7th grade are not required to have Tdap
  • Medical
    Physicians (MD or DO) or Public Health Nurses are authorized to indicate specific vaccines medically exempted (because of risk of harm) on the certificate. Other vaccines remain required. The medical reason for the exemption does not need to be provided.

    Religious
    This exemption requires a signed statement by the parent/guardian that vaccination conflicts with their religious tenets or practices. If the child needs documentation of a health examination for the school, it must be noted by the healthcare provider on the immunization certificate. In that case, the provider should check the box in section 1a. that the parent has sought a religious exemption to explain why immunization information is absent or incomplete.

  • No student determined to be homeless shall be denied admission to any school or school facility if the student has not been immunized, or is unable to produce immunization records due to being homeless.  

  • Tennessee follows published CDC guidelines. For vaccines with critical minimum age requirements (e.g., MMR, varicella) or minimum dose intervals, doses are considered valid if given up to 4 days before the minimum age or dose interval. Doses administered more than 4 days early are considered invalid and should be repeated as recommended.

    Injectable or nasally administered live vaccines not administered on the same day should be administered at least 4 weeks apart. The 4-day "grace period" should not be applied to the 28-day interval between injectable or nasally administered live vaccines not administered at the same visit.  If injectable or nasally administered live vaccines are separated by less than 4 weeks, the second vaccine administered should not be counted as a valid dose and should be repeated.  The repeat dose should be administered at least 4 weeks after the last invalid dose.

  • A positive serology (year of test documented) is acceptable as an alternative to immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B or varicella.  For varicella, documentation of provider diagnosed varicella or provider-verified credible history of disease given by a parent or guardian also is acceptable. By documenting a history of disease, the provider is asserting that he or she is convinced that the child has had chickenpox.