Meningococcal Immunization Now Required for School Admission

Pursuant to passage of Senate Bill 121 concerning the requirement that students be immunized against meningococcal disease, Ohio Department of Health Director Rick Hodges has signed the updated journal entry regarding meningococcal requirements.

Beginning with the start of the 2016-17 school year, view all pupils entering the 7^th and 12^th grade are required to be vaccinated against meningococcal (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) disease. One (1) dose of meningococcal (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) vaccine is required prior to entry into the 7^th grade.

A second (2^nd) dose of meningococcal (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) vaccine is required prior to entry into the 12^th grade. The second dose must be administered on or after the 16^th birthday with at least eight (8) weeks between the first (1^st) and second (2^nd) dose. If the first (1^st) dose of meningococcal (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) vaccine was administered after the 16^th birthday, a second (2^nd) dose is not required. If a pupil is 15 or younger, only one (1) dose is required.

This requirement shall be enforced progressively; therefore, the requirement shall be extended to 7^th and 12^th grade students in 2016; 7-8^th and 12^th grade students in 2017; 7-9^th and 12^th grade students in 2018; 7-10^th and 12^th grade students in 2019; 7-11^th and 12^th grade students in 2020; and 7-12^th grade students in 2021.