Chester County Health Department

The Chester County Health Department encourages all health care providers to use summertime as an opportunity to vaccinate school-aged children with all age-appropriate vaccines and administer vaccines required to attend school in PA.

·         For attendance in all grades, children need tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; hepatitis B; varicella; MMR; and polio vaccines. One dose of polio vaccine must be given on or after the 4^th birthday. Children may be excluded without documentation of these vaccines.

·         For attendance in 7^th grade, students need Tdap and meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) vaccines on the first day or risk exclusion. Both vaccines may be given at age 11, making the 6^th grade physical an opportune time to vaccinate.

·         For attendance in 12^th grade, students need one dose of MCV4 vaccine given on or after the 16^th birthday or risk exclusion.

·         The vaccines required for entrance, 7^th grade and 12^th grade continue to be required in each succeeding school year. Medical or philosophical/religious exemptions are accepted.

The Chester County Health Department offers all recommended vaccines at no cost to children with Medical Assistance and those who are uninsured or underinsured. A parent or guardian must accompany the child and bring vaccine records.

Privately insured children, including those with CHIP, pay out of pocket for vaccines at the Health Department.  A child’s medical home may be able to bill insurance. Other community providers that can bill insurance may be found here:  https://vaccinefinder.org/

More information about Chester County Health Department immunization clinics may be found at: www.chesco.org/health

More information about vaccines required to attend school in PA may be found at the PA Department of Health website:

http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Immunizations/School/Pages/default.aspx#.WtoHtNQbOiQ

Click here for more information on PA School Vaccination Requirements