Every school year, Florida parents face the same question: what vaccines does my child need to attend school? The state’s immunization requirements exist to protect children in group settings, from daycare through high school graduation. For the 2026-2027 school year, the Florida Department of Health maintains a clear list of required vaccines, and schools enforce these rules strictly. Missing even one dose can delay your child’s enrollment or lead to exclusion from classes. This guide breaks down every vaccine required for school in Florida for 2026, explains the documentation process, covers exemptions, and walks through what happens if you’re new to the state. If you have questions about your child’s specific health needs, always talk to your pediatrician or family doctor before making decisions about immunizations.
Overview of Florida School Immunization Requirements for 2026
Florida law (Section 1003.22, Florida Statutes) requires all children attending public or private schools to show proof of immunization before entry. The Florida Department of Health sets these requirements based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For the 2026-2027 school year, the requirements remain consistent with recent years, though parents should verify any updates through their county health department or pediatrician.
The required vaccines vary by age group. Younger children entering childcare or pre-K need a different set than students entering kindergarten, and seventh graders face an additional round of requirements. According to the Florida Department of Health, approximately 94% of kindergartners in the state met all immunization requirements during the 2024-2025 school year, a figure the state aims to maintain or improve.
Mandatory Vaccines for Childcare and Preschool
Children entering childcare or preschool programs in Florida need the following vaccines, with doses dependent on the child’s age at enrollment:
| Vaccine | Required Doses (by age 4) |
|---|---|
| DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) | 4-5 doses |
| Polio (IPV) | 3-4 doses |
| MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) | 1 dose |
| Varicella (Chickenpox) | 1 dose |
| Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) | 1-4 doses |
| Hepatitis B | 3 doses |
| PCV13 (Pneumococcal) | 1-4 doses |
The number of doses depends on the child’s age when each series began. Your child’s doctor will know the correct schedule. For families in Central Florida without a regular pediatrician, Community Health Centers (CHC) offers pediatric services across Orange County, Lake County, and surrounding areas, and their staff can review your child’s immunization history at any visit.
K-12 Grade Specific Requirements
For kindergarten through sixth grade entry, Florida requires:
- DTaP: 4-5 doses (with the final dose on or after the 4th birthday)
- Polio (IPV): 3-4 doses (final dose on or after the 4th birthday)
- MMR: 2 doses
- Varicella: 2 doses
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses
These requirements apply to all students entering Florida schools for the first time, including transfers from other states or countries. The two-dose MMR and varicella requirements catch children who may have only received one dose during preschool. Schools will not accept a child’s registration as complete until the immunization form is on file, so plan ahead, especially during the busy back-to-school season in July and August.
The Seventh Grade Immunization Update
Seventh grade marks a critical checkpoint in Florida’s school vaccine schedule. Students entering seventh grade must show proof of updated immunizations before attending classes. This requirement catches many families off guard because it comes years after the kindergarten round, and some parents assume the initial series covers everything.
The seventh grade requirement exists because immunity from some childhood vaccines fades over time. A booster at age 11 or 12 restores protection during the teen years, when students are in close contact with hundreds of peers daily. Schools in Orange County and Lake County typically send reminders during the spring of sixth grade, but don’t rely on that notification alone.
Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap) Booster
The primary addition at seventh grade is the Tdap booster. This single shot protects against tetanus (lockjaw), diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). It replaces the childhood DTaP vaccine with a formulation designed for adolescents and adults.
Florida requires one dose of Tdap for seventh grade entry. The CDC recommends administering it at the 11-12 year well-child visit, making it easy to combine with other recommended (though not state-required) vaccines like HPV and meningococcal conjugate. While HPV and meningococcal vaccines are strongly recommended by the CDC, Florida does not currently mandate them for school attendance. Talk to your child’s doctor about whether those additional vaccines make sense for your family. If your child is due for a Tdap booster and you need an affordable option, CHC locations throughout Central Florida offer immunizations on a sliding discount scale for families who qualify.
Documentation and the Florida SHOTS System
Having your child vaccinated is only half the equation. Florida schools require specific documentation proving each vaccine was administered. Verbal confirmation or out-of-state records in non-standard formats won’t be accepted without conversion to Florida’s official form.
Form DH 680: The Florida Certification of Immunization
Form DH 680 is the official Florida Certification of Immunization. This blue-and-white form must be completed and signed by a licensed healthcare provider or the county health department. It lists each required vaccine along with the dates each dose was given.
Only authorized providers can complete the DH 680. You cannot fill it out yourself, even if you have your child’s shot records from another state. If your child received vaccines at multiple locations, bring all available records to your provider so they can compile a single, accurate DH 680. Schools keep this form on file and will reject incomplete or unsigned versions.
How to Access Electronic Records
Florida SHOTS (State Health Online Tracking System) is a free, statewide immunization registry. Most healthcare providers in Florida report administered vaccines to this system automatically. Parents can request access to their child’s Florida SHOTS record through their provider or the county health department.
If you’re trying to reconstruct a vaccine history, perhaps after switching doctors or moving within the state, Florida SHOTS is the fastest way to get a complete picture. Your pediatrician’s office can pull the record during an appointment. For families using Community Health Centers in Central Florida, staff can access Florida SHOTS records and complete the DH 680 form during a single visit, saving you an extra trip.
Legal Exemptions and Special Circumstances
Florida allows two types of exemptions from school vaccine requirements: medical and religious. Philosophical or personal belief exemptions are not recognized in Florida. This is an important distinction, as some states do allow broader exemption categories.
During the 2023-2024 school year, roughly 3.4% of Florida kindergartners had a religious exemption on file, according to the CDC’s annual school vaccination assessment. That percentage has been trending upward over the past decade, prompting public health officials to emphasize the importance of community immunity.
Medical Exemptions and Temporary Waivers
A medical exemption is granted when a licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.) determines that a specific vaccine is medically contraindicated for a child. Reasons might include a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine component, an immunocompromising condition, or another documented health concern.
The physician must complete a medical exemption section on the DH 680 form, specifying which vaccines are exempted and whether the exemption is permanent or temporary. Temporary medical exemptions are reviewed annually. If your child has a complex medical history, discuss the exemption process with their doctor well before the school year starts.
Religious Exemptions (Form DH 681)
Parents who object to immunization on religious grounds may obtain a religious exemption by completing Form DH 681. This form must be obtained from the county health department, not from a school or private provider. The process typically involves a brief discussion with a health department nurse about the risks of remaining unvaccinated.
The DH 681 does not require a signature from a religious leader or proof of membership in a specific faith. Once filed with the school, it exempts the child from all vaccine requirements. However, children with religious exemptions may be excluded from school during disease outbreaks. This exclusion can last weeks depending on the disease’s incubation period, so parents should weigh that possibility carefully.
Deadlines and Compliance for New Residents
Families moving to Florida from another state or country face a tight timeline. Florida law gives new students a limited window to get their immunization records converted and filed with their new school.
Transferring Out-of-State Records
If your child was vaccinated in another state, those vaccines still count, but the records must be transferred onto a Florida DH 680 form. Bring all available documentation, including immunization cards, printouts from your previous state’s registry, and any school health records, to a Florida-licensed healthcare provider.
The provider will review the records, confirm which vaccines meet Florida’s requirements, and complete the DH 680. If any doses are missing or the schedule doesn’t align with Florida’s standards, your child may need additional shots. New residents have 30 school days from enrollment to submit a completed DH 680. After that window closes, the school is required to exclude the student until documentation is provided.
Consequences of Non-Compliance for Enrollment
Schools in Florida do not have discretion on this issue. State law requires exclusion of students who lack a valid DH 680 or an approved exemption form after the grace period expires. This means your child will be sent home and cannot return to class until the paperwork is resolved.
The exclusion applies to all public, private, and parochial schools in the state. During the 2024-2025 school year, thousands of Florida students received temporary exclusion notices in the first weeks of school. Most cases were resolved quickly once parents obtained the proper forms, but the disruption to a child’s education is real and avoidable with advance planning.
Getting Your Child Ready for the 2026-2027 School Year
The simplest way to avoid enrollment headaches is to schedule a well-child visit during the spring or early summer. Your child’s doctor can review their immunization history, administer any missing doses, and complete the DH 680 on the spot. Waiting until August creates a bottleneck, as clinics across Central Florida see a surge in back-to-school appointments.
For families in Orange County, Lake County, and surrounding communities, Community Health Centers provides pediatric care, immunizations, and school physicals at locations from Apopka to Winter Garden. CHC accepts Florida Medicaid, KidCare, and offers a sliding discount program for uninsured families, so cost should never be a barrier to getting your child school-ready. Schedule an appointment to get your child’s vaccines and paperwork handled before the rush begins.