Georgia vaccine requirements for school and daycare
Georgia law requires that children attending school or other childcare facilities receive certain vaccines depending on the child’s age. Georgia law generally follows the U.S. recommended vaccine schedule, although the state does not require all the vaccines. In 2007, the law was updated to require hepatitis A and pneumococcal vaccines and a second dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. In 2013, Georgia added Tdap and MCV vaccines as requirements for 7th grade and new entrants for grades 8-12, effective July 1, 2014. Vaccination against the following diseases is required by Georgia law:
| Diphtheria | Rubella |
| Tetanus | Hepatitis A (children born after 1/1/2006) |
| Pertussis (whooping cough) (Not required on or after 7th birthday) |
Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) (Not required on or after 5th birthday) |
| Polio | Hepatitis B |
| Measles | Varicella (chickenpox) |
| Mumps | Pneumococcus (not required on or after 5th birthday) |
| Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) (7th grade) | Meningococcus (A,C,W,Y strains) (7th grade) |
The measles requirement includes two doses; the second dose must be given by entrance into sixth grade.
Requirements for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines may be waived with proof of immunity. Requirements for varicella vaccine may also be waived with a history of medical diagnosis of the disease or a parent or guardian description of the disease that has been interpreted as valid by the certifying authority.
Parents may refuse required vaccinations only on religious grounds. The law reads as follows: “This Code section shall not apply to a child whose parent or legal guardian objects to immunization of the child on the grounds that the immunization conflicts with the religious beliefs of the parent or guardian; however, the immunization may be required in cases when such disease is in epidemic stages. For a child to be exempt from immunization on religious grounds, the parent or guardian must first furnish the responsible official of the school or facility an affidavit in which the parent or guardian swears or affirms that the immunization required conflicts with the religious beliefs of the parent or guardian.”
Children may also be exempt from the vaccine requirements for medical reasons, such as disability or allergy or a history of an adverse reaction to a vaccine.
Children who are up to date, have proof of immunity, or are exempt for medical reasons are given a 3231 Form. A 3231 Form is required for attendance at schools and daycares in Georgia. If a parent refuses any required vaccines or doses of the required vaccines and the child is not up-to-date, then a 3231 cannot be issued. Parents must provide the affidavit mentioned in the law above instead of a 3231 Form.
In cases of an epidemic, public health authorities may require vaccination even if there are religious exemptions or exclude the child from attending school until the end of the epidemic.