2026 · School entry
New York school & kindergarten vaccine requirements
To enter kindergarten in New York, children generally need 5 vaccines — DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB. Below is what each one protects against, how exemptions and provisional enrollment work, and the official New York source. Hepatitis A is not required for kindergarten entry here.
Key takeaways
- To enter kindergarten in New York, children generally need 5 vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB.
- No. New York does not require hepatitis A (HepA) for kindergarten entry, although the CDC still recommends it for children. Your required list is DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB.
- New York exemptions: medical available; religious not available; personal belief not available. Confirm on the official source.
- Standard core. Medical exemptions only (since 2019).
Which vaccines does New York 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 York specifics
Standard core. Medical exemptions only (since 2019).
What does New York say about exemptions?
- Medical Available
- Religious Not available
- Personal belief Not available
How does the process work?
A New York State licensed physician completes the medical exemption statement on form DOH-5077, and the parent gives the signed form to the school, which reviews it; medical exemptions must be submitted annually on the current form (NYC schools use a city form). Religious exemptions were repealed in 2019 and are not available.
NYS Department of Health - Day Cares, Schools and Post-secondary Institutions ↗ (opens in a new tab) Official form ↗ (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 York's official requirements?
The authoritative reference for New York 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 York State DOH — Immunization Requirements →
More questions about New York school vaccines
Which vaccines does New York require for kindergarten?
For kindergarten entry, New York requires 5 vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB. 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 York source.
Does New York require the hepatitis A vaccine for school?
No. New York does not require hepatitis A (HepA) for kindergarten entry, although the CDC still recommends it for children. Your required list is DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB.
Can my child start school in New York on a delayed vaccine schedule?
Often it can. A slower, spaced-out schedule can still satisfy New York's rules as long as the required series (DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB) 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 York allow vaccine exemptions?
New York: Medical exemptions are available, religious exemptions are not available, and personal-belief exemptions are not available. A New York State licensed physician completes the medical exemption statement on form DOH-5077, and the parent gives the signed form to the school, which reviews it; medical exemptions must be submitted annually on the current form (NYC schools use a city form). Religious exemptions were repealed in 2019 and are not available. Rules and forms change, so confirm with NYS Department of Health - Day Cares, Schools and Post-secondary Institutions or your school.
Plan New York-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.