2026 · School entry
New Mexico school & kindergarten vaccine requirements
To enter kindergarten in New Mexico, children generally need 6 vaccines — DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA. Below is what each one protects against, how exemptions and provisional enrollment work, and the official New Mexico source. Note that this jurisdiction also requires hepatitis A.
Key takeaways
- To enter kindergarten in New Mexico, children generally need 6 vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA.
- Yes. New Mexico requires the hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine for school entry. Confirm the exact grades and dose timing on the official source, as HepA rules vary the most between states.
- New Mexico exemptions: medical available; religious available; personal belief not available. Confirm on the official source.
- HepA required grades K-4 (2 doses); catch-up recommended grades 5-12. Phased as of 2024-25.
Which vaccines does New Mexico require for kindergarten?
Each card links to a full guide for that vaccine — brands, ingredients, and how a delayed schedule changes the dose count.
New Mexico specifics
HepA required grades K-4 (2 doses); catch-up recommended grades 5-12. Phased as of 2024-25.
What does New Mexico say about exemptions?
- Medical Available
- Religious Available
- Personal belief Not available
How does the process work?
Religious: the parent submits the NMDOH Certificate of Exemption, signed before a notary, with either an officer's letter from a denomination that relies on prayer or spiritual means alone for healing, or a written affirmation that the parent's religious beliefs do not permit immunization. It is mailed to NMDOH, which has 60 days to approve or deny; an approved form shows an expiration date. Medical: a physician affidavit that a vaccine would endanger the child's life or health. Personal reasons are not accepted.
NMDOH - Immunization Requirements for Schools ↗ (opens in a new tab)
This summarizes what the state's own pages say, reviewed September 30, 2026. It is not advice for or against any option. Laws and forms change; confirm with your school or health department. Compare all states in the exemptions overview, or see glossary definitions.
What is provisional enrollment?
Many states permit provisional or conditional enrollment, which lets a child start school while still catching up on a series that has already been started. Rules and time limits vary, so ask your school. The catch-up guide explains how remaining doses are counted.
Where are New Mexico's official requirements?
The authoritative reference for New Mexico is the state's own published requirements. Always verify dose counts, grade ranges, and exemptions there — those details change and are not all captured here.
New Mexico PED — 2024-25 School Entry Schedule Letter →
More questions about New Mexico school vaccines
Which vaccines does New Mexico require for kindergarten?
For kindergarten entry, New Mexico requires 6 vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA. These protect against diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis); polio; measles, mumps, rubella. Dose counts and grade ranges can vary — always confirm on the official New Mexico source.
Does New Mexico require the hepatitis A vaccine for school?
Yes. New Mexico requires the hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine for school entry. Confirm the exact grades and dose timing on the official source, as HepA rules vary the most between states.
Can my child start school in New Mexico on a delayed vaccine schedule?
Often it can. A slower, spaced-out schedule can still satisfy New Mexico's rules as long as the required series (DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA) are finished — or, in many districts, in progress under provisional/conditional enrollment — by the first day of school. The free planner builds a plan that finishes every required vaccine in time. Confirm the specifics with your school district and your child's healthcare practitioner.
Does New Mexico allow vaccine exemptions?
New Mexico: Medical exemptions are available, religious exemptions are available, and personal-belief exemptions are not available. Religious: the parent submits the NMDOH Certificate of Exemption, signed before a notary, with either an officer's letter from a denomination that relies on prayer or spiritual means alone for healing, or a written affirmation that the parent's religious beliefs do not permit immunization. It is mailed to NMDOH, which has 60 days to approve or deny; an approved form shows an expiration date. Medical: a physician affidavit that a vaccine would endanger the child's life or health. Personal reasons are not accepted. Rules and forms change, so confirm with NMDOH - Immunization Requirements for Schools or your school.
Plan New Mexico-ready vaccinations on a slower schedule
Want to space shots out but still finish every required vaccine before the first day of school? Build a spaced-out, minimum-dose plan you can review with your child's healthcare practitioner.
Build my plan →Sources
The state's own page is the authority; the others are cross-checks.