Immunization Prep: Maryland's 2026 School Vaccine Requirements Explained
Don't Let a Missing Vaccine Delay the First Day
Maryland law requires children enrolled in preschool through 12th grade to have age-appropriate immunizations on file before they can attend school. If your child's records are not complete, they can be excluded from class. Summer is the time to check and catch up, not the week before school starts.
What's Required, By Grade
● Kindergarten and grades 1–11: two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, or documented proof of disease
● Grade 7: one dose of Tdap and one dose of meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine, even if your child already had Tdap earlier
● All grades: DTaP/Tdap, polio (IPV), and MMR per the age-based schedule
Requirements increase at key transition points — kindergarten entry and 7th grade especially — so these are the two years families are most likely to get a notice from the school nurse.
What Happens If Records Are Incomplete
Students without proof of immunization can be temporarily admitted if a parent shows evidence of a scheduled appointment, but Maryland gives only 20 calendar days from the first day of school to provide proof of compliance. After that, a student can be excluded from school until records are complete.
How We Can Help
Bring your child's immunization record (or your Maryland Immunization Certificate, form MDH-896) to any visit this summer. We can review what's missing, catch your child up in a single visit when possible, and submit documentation directly to your school. You can also pull your child's official record anytime through Maryland MyIR.
Schedule a Catch-Up Visit
Call us or message us through the portal to schedule a vaccine catch-up appointment before the back-to-school rush. Same-week appointments are usually available in July.
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