What Vaccines Are Mandatory for School in Illinois?

The mandatory vaccines for school in Illinois are DTaP, polio, MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and pneumococcal shots at kindergarten entry, with Tdap and meningococcal conjugate boosters added in sixth grade and a second meningococcal dose added in twelfth. Every child in a public, private, independent, or parochial school must show proof of these immunizations, or an approved exemption, by October 15 of each school year.¹

The Required Vaccines at School Entry

Illinois Administrative Code Title 77, Section 665.230 lists the diseases every enrolling child must show immunity against. For kindergarten entry, the requirements are:¹

Four or more doses of DTaP (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), with the last dose on or after the fourth birthday.
Four or more doses of inactivated polio vaccine, with the final dose on or after the fourth birthday.
Two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), the first on or after the first birthday and the second at least four weeks later.
Three doses of hepatitis B, required at all grade levels.
Two doses of varicella (chickenpox).
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) for younger children and those entering preschool or child care.
Pneumococcal vaccine for younger children entering child care or preschool.

IDPH publishes an updated minimum immunization requirements chart each school year with the exact dose counts and spacing intervals.² Proof is submitted on a Certificate of Child Health Examination signed by a licensed healthcare provider, and the school keeps the record on file.

Added Vaccines in Sixth and Twelfth Grade

Illinois doesn’t stop at kindergarten, and these later requirements catch families off guard more often than the first round does.

A student entering sixth grade needs one dose of Tdap given on or after the eleventh birthday, regardless of when the child last had a tetanus-containing shot. They also need one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) given on or after the eleventh birthday.²

A student entering twelfth grade needs two doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine. The second must be given on or after the sixteenth birthday and at least eight weeks after the first. If the first dose was already given on or after the sixteenth birthday, no second dose is required.²

The October 15 Deadline

October 15 is the hard deadline. A student who hasn’t provided proof of the required vaccines or an approved exemption by that date can be excluded from school until they do.

If your child has started a multi-dose series but hasn’t finished it when school begins, Illinois allows provisional enrollment. A healthcare provider submits a signed statement listing when the remaining doses will be given during the school year. The school tracks the schedule. Miss a scheduled dose, and your child is no longer in compliance and can be excluded.²

Medical Exemption

A child can be excused from one or more required vaccines when a licensed physician determines the vaccine is medically inadvisable. Common reasons include severe allergies to vaccine components, immune system disorders, or other documented conditions that make vaccination dangerous for that specific child. The physician provides a written statement naming which vaccines are contraindicated and explaining why, and the school keeps the documentation.¹

A medical exemption may be temporary or permanent depending on the condition. A child with a time-limited contraindication, such as a course of immunosuppressive medication, needs the exemption renewed once the condition resolves.

Religious Exemption

Illinois also allows parents to opt out based on religious objection. The objection can be personal rather than drawn from the teachings of an organized religion. General philosophical or moral reluctance toward vaccination, however, does not qualify. The objection must be grounded in religious belief.³

Parents complete the IDPH Certificate of Religious Exemption form, which asks for a written statement explaining the religious basis for the objection. The child’s healthcare provider must also sign the form, attesting that they informed the parent about the benefits of immunization and the health risks of opting out, both for the child and for the surrounding community. The provider’s signature does not endorse the parent’s religious beliefs; it only confirms the educational conversation happened.⁴

That dual-signature requirement, added by Public Act 099-0249, makes Illinois’s process more involved than many states. You can’t file the form alone. You need a healthcare provider willing to complete their portion.

What Happens If You Don’t Comply

The immediate consequence is exclusion. A school can send your child home and keep them out until the vaccines or exemption paperwork are in order.

The longer consequence is more serious. Illinois compulsory attendance law still applies to a child excluded for missing vaccines, which creates a legal squeeze. Under 105 ILCS 5/26-10, a parent who receives notice of their child’s truancy and knowingly allows it to continue in the same school year commits a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.⁵

Schools and health departments usually work with families before anything reaches that point. The penalties exist, though, and the combination of exclusion and compulsory attendance means ignoring the requirements isn’t a workable long-term plan.

Private, Parochial, and Homeschool Students

Private and parochial school students in Illinois are subject to the same immunization rules as public school students. The Administrative Code applies to every child enrolling in “any public, private, independent or parochial school.”¹

Homeschooled children who don’t attend any classes at a school building are generally not covered by the school immunization mandate. A homeschool student who takes even one class or participates in a school-based program must meet the same requirements as other enrolled students.

Paying for the Shots

Cost usually isn’t a barrier. Under the Affordable Care Act, private health plans must cover all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with no copay, coinsurance, or deductible when you use an in-network provider. That includes every vaccine on the Illinois school list.

For uninsured or underinsured children, the federal Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines at no cost. A child qualifies if they are under 19 and uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, American Indian or Alaska Native, or underinsured because their plan either doesn’t cover vaccines or requires cost-sharing for them. Underinsured children can receive VFC vaccines at Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics.⁶

Local health departments across Illinois also run vaccination clinics, often focused on underserved communities. If you’re unsure where to go, your local health department is a reliable first call.

Transfers From Military Families

Illinois is a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. A child transferring into an Illinois school from another state because of a military move has 30 days from the date of enrollment to complete immunizations or begin a multi-dose series.⁷ The grace period prevents immediate exclusion while records transfer and while the child catches up on any shots Illinois requires that the previous state did not.

1
Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois Administrative Code Title 77 Part 665 – Child Health Examination Code
2
Illinois Department of Public Health. Minimum Immunization Requirements for Children Enrolling or Entering a Child Care Facility or School in Illinois, 2025-2026
3
Cornell Law School. Illinois Administrative Code Title 77, Section 694.210 – Religious Exemption
4
Illinois Department of Public Health. Certificate of Religious Exemption Form
5
Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 105 ILCS 5/26-10
6
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program Eligibility
7
eCFR. Title 32 Part 89 – Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children