Public Health and Environment
Summary of New Immunization Requirements: 2003 and 2004
Minnesota Rules, Parts 4604.0100 to 4604.1000
In the fall of 2003, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) modified the immunization requirements for children in child care, grades K-12, and students at post-secondary institutions. These changes do not alter the medical exemption or the option for parents to decline any or all vaccines due to conscientious objections.
Effective October 2003
- Schedule: Shortens the grace period school-age children have to complete any immunization series for 18 to eight months to make it easier to bring children into compliance in the school year.
- Schedule: Allows vaccine doses administered four or fewer days before the minimum age required in law to be considered valid in order to be consistent with nationally established recommendations.
- Immunization Documentation: Requires all child care facilities and elementary and secondary schools to use the Minnesota Department of Health's official record form or a similar document approved by the department, when communicating to parents or guardians regarding immunization requirements and exemption procedures. The record form requests information about immunizations and includes space for documenting medical or conscientious exemptions.
- Hib Vacccine: Clarifies the current Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB) dosage series by requiring that one dose be given at or after 12 months of age to be consistent with clinical guidelines.
- Hepatitis B Vaccine: Allows both the three-dose and the alternate two-dose hepatitis B vaccine series for 11-15 year olds.
- Suspension of Law: Gives the commissioner of health authority to suspend immunization law requirements (121A.15 and 135A.14) to address a vaccine shortage or emergency situation.
Effective September 2004
- Varicella (Chickenpox): Requires documentation of varicella vaccine or history of disease for children age 18 months to 5 years who are enrolled in child care, as well as for school-age children entering kindergarten and seventh grade. Documentation of a history of varicella disease must include one of the following:
- Signature of a provider and the date of the child's varicella illness; or
- Signature of a provider and a statement that a parent's or legal guardian's description of the disease history is indicative of past varicella infection; or
- Signature of a provider or a representative of a public clinic and laboratory evidence of the child's varicella immunity; or
- Signature of the child's parent or legal guardian and the year the child had varicella disease. This item expires on September1, 2010.
- Pneumococcal: Requires documentation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for children enrolled in child care who are between 2 and 24 months of age. This vaccine protects against meningitis, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccine: Requires children entering kindergarten to provide documentation of a second dose of vaccine each for measles, mumps, and rubella. (Minnesota currently requires and will continue to require the second dose for children in grades 7-12 until spring 2012.)
For more information and a detailed copy of the rule requirements, contact the Minnesota Department of Health Immunization Program at 612-676-5414 or immunizerule@health.state.mn.us or on the web at http://www.health.state.mn.us/immunize.
