Alabama State Vaccine Requirements

• General Information
• Vaccination Requirements
• Exemption Information

• Higher Ed Vaccination Requirements & Exemption Information - Request college/university of choice for their Proof of Immunization Compliance, as each institution may use its own form. 

• General Information
• Vaccination Requirements
• Exemption Information

• State Healthcare Worker and Patient Vaccination Laws
• State of Alabama Legislature – see applicable statutes and their hyperlinks below.
• Visit NVIC’s Advocacy Portal for information on legislation introduced impacting vaccine exemption rights. 
• State of Alabama Department of Health
• State of Alabama Immunization Program
• State of Alabama Vaccine Tracking System – You may also wish to contact your state’s vaccine tracking registry to determine if the ability to opt out is available.
• State of Alabama Proposed Rule-Making – View your state’s registry to learn about proposed rule-making.

TITLE 16. EDUCATION
CHAPTER 30. IMMUNIZATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

Section 16-30-1 Immunization or testing for certain 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. Responsibilities of parents. 

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. Exceptions to chapter.

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. Presentation of certificate upon initial entrance into school.

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. 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 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 General Provisions.

(l) 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 diseases listed in 420-6-1-.03 (Code of Alabama, 1975, §16-30-4.). The Certificate of Immunization will be on a form approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health. 

(2) The Department of Human Resources has required each child two months of age or older attending any child care center/home to present a Certificate of Immunization for the prevention of diseases listed in 420-6-1-.03.

(3) 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/child’s child care center/home record. When a student/child leaves a school/child care center/home upon graduation, transfer, relocation or otherwise; the school or child care center/home may return the original certificate to the student’s/child’s parents/guardians and retain a legible copy in the institution’s record. 

(4) A written objection from the parent or guardian of a student or child 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 Immunization Schedule. 

(1) Unless otherwise noted in paragraphs (2) and (3) below, vaccine doses should be administered according to the most recent version of the Recommended Immunization Schedules for Persons Aged 0 Through 18 Years, as published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. 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.

(2) Except as provided in Chapter 420-6-1-.02 and in the Code of Alabama, 1975, §16-30-4, each pupil, prior to entering Alabama school grade kindergarten through twelfth grade shall receive age-appropriate immunizations as below:
 

(a) 5 doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP). Only 4 doses are needed if the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday. Booster doses of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids vaccine (Td) must be given 5-10 years after the preschool booster. However, effective for students entering sixth grade beginning fall of 2010, a booster dose of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) must be given at 11 or 12 years of age. This requirement will escalate by one successive grade each year for the following 6 years to include sixth through twelfth grades, beginning fall of 2016.

(b) 4 doses of inactivated polio vaccine. Only 3 doses are needed if the third dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday.

(c) immunization against mumps and rubella.

(d) 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine.

(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) 1 dose of varicella vaccine at 12 months of age or older for persons less than 13 years of age;

(ii) 2 doses of varicella vaccine separated by at least 28 days for persons 13 years of

age or older beginning the vaccination series.

(3) Children entering any child care center/home shall, in addition to the vaccines listed above, also receive age-appropriate immunizations for:

(a) Haemophilus influenzae type b; and

(b) Pneumococcal disease using pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

 

Alabama Admin. Code r. 660-5-26-.08. Administration.
(4) Children’s Records 

(b) 3. Immunizations.

(i) 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). 

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

Below  are state statutes relating to minor consent for this state; however, there may be additional statutes NVIC is unaware of, and readers may need to do additional research and/or obtain additional legal advice. NVIC doesn't provide legal advice and provides the below for informational purposes only. NVIC provides additional resource information in our FAQ on Vaccination in School-Based Health Clinics, should readers have concerns about the vaccination of their child without parental knowledge or consent this school setting.

Code of Alabama § 22-8-4 - Any minor who is 14 years of age or older, or has graduated from high school, or is married, or having been married is divorced or is pregnant may give effective consent to any legally authorized medical, dental, health or mental health services for himself or herself, and the consent of no other person shall be necessary. Alabama Code Title 22. Health, Mental Health, and Environmental Control § 22-8-4 | FindLaw

 

Below  are state statutes relating to minor consent for this state; however, there may be additional statutes NVIC is unaware of, and readers may need to do additional research and/or obtain additional legal advice. NVIC doesn't provide legal advice and provides the below for informational purposes only. NVIC provides additional resource information in our FAQ on Vaccination in School-Based Health Clinics, should readers have concerns about the vaccination of their child without parental knowledge or consent this school setting.

Code of Alabama § 22-8-4 - Any minor who is 14 years of age or older, or has graduated from high school, or is married, or having been married is divorced or is pregnant may give effective consent to any legally authorized medical, dental, health or mental health services for himself or herself, and the consent of no other person shall be necessary. Alabama Code Title 22. Health, Mental Health, and Environmental Control § 22-8-4 | FindLaw