The beginning of the new school year is here, and Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (BBPH) would like to remind parents to make sure their children are up to date on immunizations! North Dakota state law requires students in grades kindergarten through 12 to meet a minimum number of required immunizations before they are allowed to attend school. If children are not up to date within 30 days of the start of the school year, they will be excluded from school. It is important to get your child vaccinated now in order to protect them and other students from preventable diseases and so they do not need to be excluded from school.

Vaccines are the best way to keep students protected and stop the spread of infectious diseases such as pertussis, mumps, and measles. Vaccines are especially important for school settings where outbreaks can occur easily and quickly. If you haven’t done so already, check with your healthcare provider to find out which vaccines your child needs. Once your child is up to date on vaccinations, please be sure to submit their immunization record to your school.

Before entering school in North Dakota, children must have:
• five doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis)
• four doses of IPV (polio)
• three doses of HBV (hepatitis B)
• two doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
• two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

In addition, students entering 7th grade will need:
• one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis)
• one dose of MCV4 (meningococcal disease)

For more information about school immunization requirements, contact Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health at 701-355-1540 or check the link below.