2026 · School entry
Tennessee school & kindergarten vaccine requirements
To enter kindergarten in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee source. Note that this jurisdiction also requires hepatitis A.
Key takeaways
- To enter kindergarten in Tennessee, children generally need 6 vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, VAR, HepB, HepA.
- Yes. Tennessee 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.
- Tennessee exemptions: medical available; religious available; personal belief not available. Confirm on the official source.
- HepA required at K (2 doses, 6-18 months apart). Positive serology accepted.
Which vaccines does Tennessee require for kindergarten?
Each card links to a full guide for that vaccine — brands, ingredients, and how a delayed schedule changes the dose count.
Tennessee specifics
HepA required at K (2 doses, 6-18 months apart). Positive serology accepted.
What does Tennessee say about exemptions?
- Medical Available
- Religious Available
- Personal belief Not available
How does the process work?
Religious: a parent or guardian files a signed, written statement with school authorities that immunization conflicts with religious tenets and practices, affirmed under penalty of perjury (T.C.A. 49-6-5001). Medical: a physician or public health nurse signs on the state Certificate of Immunization. The Department of Health states that it does not approve exemptions; schools and districts handle procedures locally.
Tennessee Department of Health - Immunization Program ↗ (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 Tennessee's official requirements?
The authoritative reference for Tennessee 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.
Tennessee DOH — Immunization Program (child care through 12th grade) →
More questions about Tennessee school vaccines
Which vaccines does Tennessee require for kindergarten?
For kindergarten entry, Tennessee 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 Tennessee source.
Does Tennessee require the hepatitis A vaccine for school?
Yes. Tennessee 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 Tennessee on a delayed vaccine schedule?
Often it can. A slower, spaced-out schedule can still satisfy Tennessee'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 Tennessee allow vaccine exemptions?
Tennessee: Medical exemptions are available, religious exemptions are available, and personal-belief exemptions are not available. Religious: a parent or guardian files a signed, written statement with school authorities that immunization conflicts with religious tenets and practices, affirmed under penalty of perjury (T.C.A. 49-6-5001). Medical: a physician or public health nurse signs on the state Certificate of Immunization. The Department of Health states that it does not approve exemptions; schools and districts handle procedures locally. Rules and forms change, so confirm with Tennessee Department of Health - Immunization Program or your school.
Plan Tennessee-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.