The Mississippi Department of Health has immunization requirements for those who attend child care, pre-school, and school. The state’s immunization requirements follow the current schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).  

Children enrolling in child care facilities, pre-school, pre-Kindergarten

Infants entering child care facilities must be up to date at the time of enrollment and are required to provide an updated certificate after completing all of the required vaccines due no later than 18 months of age.

  • Hepatitis B (HBV)

  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)

  • Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV)

  • Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) – age younger than 5 years only

  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) – age younger than 5 years only

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella – 1 dose of each, normally given together as MMR

  • Varicella – 1 dose or credible history of disease

Children enrolling in Kindergarten

  • Hepatitis B (HBV)

  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)

  • Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV) – final dose on or after the 4th birthday

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella – 2 doses of each, normally given together as MMR

  • Varicella – 2 doses or credible history of disease

All children entering 7th grade (including currently enrolled students)

  • Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster (Tdap) – evidence of one Tdap dose given any time before 7th grade entry is required regardless of Td history

Children who are new enrollees in a MS school in grades other than Kindergarten

  • Hepatitis B (HBV)

  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)

  • Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV) – final dose on or after the 4th birthday

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella – 2 doses of each, normally given together as MMR

  • Varicella – 2 doses or credible history of disease

  • New students entering grades other than 7th grade are not required to have Tdap

Immunization Exemptions

Mississippi law allows exceptions for medical reasons.

Medical

Physicians (MD or DO) or Public Health Nurses are authorized to indicate specific vaccines medically exempted (because of risk of harm) on the certificate. Other vaccines remain required. The medical reason for the exemption does not need to be provided.

  • Medical exemption requests completed and signed by a tertiary care physician outside of the state will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
  • The same pediatrician, family physician, internist, or tertiary care physician must indicate on Form 139 the medical condition of the child seeking exemption and indicate the exemption status for each of the listed vaccines.
  • Form 139 must be submitted to the Mississippi State Department of Health Epidemiologist or Deputy State Epidemiologist.
  • The State Epidemiologist or Deputy State Epidemiologist will mail a copy of the Certificate of Medical Exemption (Form 122) to the parent and the pediatrician, family practitioner, internist, or tertiary care physician who submitted the Medical Exemption Request. The original Certificate of Medical Exemption (Form 122) will be housed at MSDH.

Data regarding medical exemptions will be maintained in the Immunization area of the MSDH website. See the report at the end of this page.

Medical reasons exemption form
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