Tools for Schools
How to Implement Immunization Requirements:
- Obtain each child's personal immunization record (e.g., "yellow card").
- Complete a California School Immunization Record (CSIR/Blue Card/CDPH 286)(PDF) by transferring vaccine dates from the child's personal immunization record to a Blue Card or equivalent record. Blue Cards and stickers for the 7th grade Tdap (Pertussis Booster) requirement are available for free from local health departments.
(See Resources page for more information on computerized records.)
- Determine if requirements are met by comparing the number of doses on the Blue Card to the Guide to Immunization Requirements for K-12th Grade (PDF) | Spanish (PDF).
See Exemptions FAQs for more information.
- Complete the Status of Requirements boxes on the Blue Card.
- Admit only children who
(a) have all required immunizations; or
(b) are not currently due for any immunizations but have doses due later (see Conditional Admission FAQs); or
(c) fit in one of the "Other" categories (see
Exemptions FAQs).
If requirements are not met, you may refer parents to their doctor with a Letter to
Parents: Immunizations Needed (PDF).
- File the completed Blue Card, or equivalent, in the child's cumulative folder. Schools must keep immunization information on file for every child enrolled.
- Follow up on those children who were not due for any doses when admitted but have pending doses due later. (See Blue Book (PDF) for more information on following up with parents.)
- Every fall, submit Immunization Assessment Reports for kindergarten and 7th grade. Throughout the school year, report contagious diseases (PDF) to your local health department.
*See the Blue Book (PDF) for additional information.
Resources