Health Requirements
Health Requirements for Enrollment
Physical examinations (PDF) and immunizations (PDF) must be up to date according to the Illinois Department of Public Health prior to the first day of school. Your child will not be allowed to attend classes starting on the first day of school, if the school has not received proof of these requirements have been met. The physical must be completed before school starts. An appointment will not be accepted.
Eye examinations (PDF) and dental examinations (PDF) are required as below.
Requirements per Grade Level
- Preschool: Physical examination, lead screening, and updated immunizations including 4 DTP, 3 Polio, 3 HIB, 1 MMR, Hepatitis B series, Varicella (Chickenpox) Hib vaccination series, and the pneumococcal series.
- Kindergarten: Physical examination within one year prior to the first day of school, updated immunizations including DTP and Polio after four years of age, 2 MMR, Hepatitis B series, and 2 Varicella (Chickenpox). A dental and an eye examination are also required. To be in compliance with the Illinois Department of Public Health requirements, the dental exam or a waiver must be completed and dated prior to May 15th of the current school year and the eye examination or a waiver on file by October 15th of the current school year.
- Second Grade: Dental examination or waiver completed and dated prior to May 15th of the current school year.
- Sixth Grade: Physical examination within one year prior to the first day of school and updated immunizations. Students must provide proof of having received the Hepatitis B series, a Tdap vaccination, a meningococcal, and two doses of varicella vaccine. A dental examination or waiver completed and dated prior to May 15th of the current school year is also required.
- Ninth Grade: Physical examination within one year prior to the first day of school and updated immunizations. Students must also provide proof of having received a Tdap vaccination and two doses of varicella vaccine. A dental examination or waiver completed and dated prior to May 15th of the current school year is also required.
- Students entering any grade K-12 will need to show proof of having received 2 doses of MMR vaccine.
- All students entering, transferring, or advancing into 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades will be required to show proof of receipt of one dose of Tdap vaccine (containing tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). Most students may have already received the vaccine and simply need to provide the school with verifying documentation from the family health care provider.
- New for the fall of 2017, the Illinois Department of Public Health is requiring all 6th, 7th, 8th and 12th graders to show proof of recent meningococcal conjugate vaccinations (MCV4) (PDF). All 6th graders are required to show proof of 1 dose received on or after 11 years of age. All 12th graders need to show proof of receiving 2 doses unless the first dose was administered after 16 years of age. In this case, only 1 dose after 16 years of age is required.
Students Entering an Illinois School for the First Time
Children entering Illinois schools for the first time must complete a physical examination prior to starting the school year. Out-of-state forms are only accepted for students transferring into Illinois schools for the first time. The exam must have been completed within one year prior to the date of entry into an Illinois school and must cover all "required" elements as listed on the Certificate of Child Health Examination form.
In addition to immunizations, students (with the exception of preschoolers) must have an eye examination within 30 days of enrollment. An exam up to one year prior to entering school is valid.
If you have questions whether your child needs any additional immunizations, ask your doctor, Health Department, or school nurse. Call your health care provider for an appointment. The McDonough County Health Department also gives immunizations. For an appointment please call 309-837-9951.