2026 · School entry
South Carolina school & kindergarten vaccine requirements
To enter kindergarten in South Carolina, 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 South Carolina source. Note that this jurisdiction also requires hepatitis A.
Key takeaways
- To enter kindergarten in South Carolina, children generally need 6 vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA.
- Yes. South Carolina 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.
- South Carolina exemptions: medical available; religious available; personal belief not available. Confirm on the official source.
- HepA required grades K-5 (phased; 2-dose series).
Which vaccines does South Carolina require for kindergarten?
Each card links to a full guide for that vaccine — brands, ingredients, and how a delayed schedule changes the dose count.
South Carolina specifics
HepA required grades K-5 (phased; 2-dose series).
What does South Carolina say about exemptions?
- Medical Available
- Religious Available
- Personal belief Not available
How does the process work?
Religious: the parent, guardian or person in loco parentis signs the South Carolina Certificate of Religious Exemption (DPH 1126/1126A) before a notary; it is available at a local health department or online. Medical: a licensed provider documents the contraindication on the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization. A school principal may also issue a one-time 30-day temporary exemption.
SC DPH - Exemptions from School Vaccine Requirements ↗ (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 South Carolina's official requirements?
The authoritative reference for South Carolina 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.
South Carolina DPH — 2025-26 School Law Letter →
More questions about South Carolina school vaccines
Which vaccines does South Carolina require for kindergarten?
For kindergarten entry, South Carolina 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 South Carolina source.
Does South Carolina require the hepatitis A vaccine for school?
Yes. South Carolina 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 South Carolina on a delayed vaccine schedule?
Often it can. A slower, spaced-out schedule can still satisfy South Carolina'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 South Carolina allow vaccine exemptions?
South Carolina: Medical exemptions are available, religious exemptions are available, and personal-belief exemptions are not available. Religious: the parent, guardian or person in loco parentis signs the South Carolina Certificate of Religious Exemption (DPH 1126/1126A) before a notary; it is available at a local health department or online. Medical: a licensed provider documents the contraindication on the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization. A school principal may also issue a one-time 30-day temporary exemption. Rules and forms change, so confirm with SC DPH - Exemptions from School Vaccine Requirements or your school.
Plan South Carolina-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.