ALABAMA

Current as of 2006 Quick Fact: Need certificate of exemption from Alabama Department of Health. Other Resources: Alabama State Health Department: http://www.adph.org State of Alabama Immunization Schedule: http://www.adph.org/IMMUNIZATION/assets/SchoolImmLaw.pdf State of Alabama Requirements for Immunization - Child Care, Schools, Colleges: http://www.adph.org/Immunization/assets/ALImmRequirements.pdf

TITLE 16. EDUCATION
CHAPTER 30. IMMUNIZATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

Code of Alabama § 16-30-1 ( 2006)

§ 16-30-1. Designation of diseases

The State Health Officer is authorized, subject to the approval of the State Board of Health, to designate diseases against which children must be immunized or for which they must be tested prior to, or, in certain instances after entry into the schools of Alabama.

Code of Alabama § 16-30-2 ( 2006)

§ 16-30-2. Parental responsibility

It shall be the responsibility of the parents or guardians of children to have their children immunized or tested as required by Section 16-30-1.

Code of Alabama § 16-30-3 (2006)

§ 16-30-3. Exemptions

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply if:

(1) In the absence of an epidemic or immediate threat thereof, the parent or guardian of the child shall object thereto in writing on grounds that such immunization or testing conflicts with his religious tenets and practices; or

(2) Certification by a competent medical authority providing individual exemption from the required immunization or testing is presented the admissions officer of the school.

Code of Alabama § 16-30-4 (2006)

§ 16-30-4. Certificate of immunization

The boards of education and the governing authority of each private school shall require each pupil who is otherwise entitled to admittance to kindergarten or first grade, whichever is applicable, or any other entrance into an Alabama public or private school, to present a certification of immunization or testing for the prevention of those communicable diseases designated by the State Health Officer, except as provided in Section 16-30-3. Provided, however, that any student presently enrolled in a school in this state, not having been immunized upon initial entrance to school, is hereby required to present a certification of immunization as described in this section upon commencement of the next school year. Section 16-30-1 and this section shall apply only to kindergarten through 12th grade and not to the institutions of higher learning.

Code of Alabama § 16-30-5 (2006)

§ 16-30-5. Rules and regulations

The State Health Officer shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out this chapter.

 

ALABAMA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH;
DIVISION OF DISEASE CONTROL

Alabama Admin. Code r. 420-6-1-.01 ( 2006)

420-6-1-.01 Authority.

This regulation is promulgated by the State Health Officer and approved by the State Board of Health on October 17, 1979, pursuant to Code of Ala. 1975, § 16-30-5.

Alabama Admin. Code r. 420-6-1-.02 ( 2006)

420-6-1-.02 General Provisions.

(1) The board of education and the governing authority of each private school shall require each pupil, prior to entering kindergarten or first grade or prior to re-entering the higher grades of the schools of Alabama, to present a certificate of immunization for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella and mumps (Code of Ala. 1975, § 16-30-4). Pupils who have passed their seventh birthday are exempt from a requirement for pertussis immunization.

(2) Such certificate shall be on the form approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health and shall be made a part of the pupil's school record. When a student leaves a school upon graduation, transfer, relocation or otherwise; the school may return the original certificate to the student's parents/guardians and retain a legible copy in the school record.

(3) A written objection from the parent or guardian of a student based on religious tenets and practices shall be submitted in person by the parent or guardian to the County Health Department for issuance of a Certificate of Religious Exemption from the required immunizations or testing. A licensed physician can provide individual exemption from the required immunizations or testing on a Certificate of Medical Exemption. The Certificate of Religious Exemption and the Certificate of Medical Exemption will be on forms approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health and will be accepted in lieu of the Certificate of Immunization.

Alabama Admin. Code r. 420-6-1-.03 ( 2006)

420-6-1-.03 Immunization Schedule.

(1) Except as provided in Rule 420-6-1-.02 and Code of Ala. 1975, § 16-30-5, each pupil, prior to entering Alabama school grade kindergarten through twelfth grade shall receive age appropriate immunizations as below:

(a) at a minimum, four (4) doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccination. The last dose must be administered after the child's fourth birthday. Booster doses of tetanus-diptheria toxoid vaccine must be given 5-10 years after the preschool booster.
(b) 4 doses of polio vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Only 3 doses are needed if the 3rd dose was administered after the 4th birthday.
(c) immunization against mumps and rubella. This dose shall be administered at 12 months of age or later.
(d) two (2) doses of measles-containing vaccine. The first dose shall be administered at 12 months of age or later and the second dose shall be administered at least 28 days later.
(e) varicella vaccine subject to the following schedule unless there is documentation of a positive varicella titer or a date of varicella disease. This requirement is effective for students entering kindergarten beginning fall of 2001 and will escalate by one successive grade each year for the following 12 years to include all grades, kindergarten through twelfth, beginning fall of 2013:

(i) one dose of varicella vaccine at 12 months of age or older for persons less than 13 years of age;
(ii) two doses of varicella vaccine separated by at least 28 days for persons 13 years of age or older beginning the vaccination series.

(2) Vaccine doses administered < 4 days before the minimum interval or age should be counted as valid. Doses administered > 5 days earlier than the minimum interval or age should not be counted as valid doses and should be repeated as age appropriate.

 

MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR DAY CARE CENTERS AND NIGHTTIME CENTERS:
REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES
Prescribed by: State of Alabama
Department of Human Resources

4(b)(3) Immunizations

(a) On the child's first day of attendance, each child from two (2) months of age to lawful school age and each child of lawful school age who is not enrolled in public or private school kindergarten shall have a valid State of Alabama Certificate of Immunization (ADPH-F-IMM- 50), on file in the center, unless one of the following is on file in the center:

A valid State of Alabama Certificate of Medical Exemption (ADPH-F-IMM-50); OR
A valid Alabama Certificate of Religious Exemption (ADPH-F-IMM-52).

(b) Each child's Certificate of Immunization shall be updated according to the expiration date indicated on the certificate.