• A minimum of four (4) doses of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (with one dose administered on or after the fourth birthday).
• Three (3) doses of oral polio (with one dose administered on or after the fourth birthday).
• Two live measles immunizations, the first given at one year of age or older.
• Rubella immunization, given on or after the first birthday.
• Mumps immunization, given on or after the first birthday.
• Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B vaccine.
• One dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.
• A Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test is recommended.
• Every child 12 months through 59 months of age enrolling in or attending a licensed child care center or preschool facility on or after September 1, 2008, shall have received at least one dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) on or after their first birthday.
• Children 6 months through 59 months of age attending any licensed child care facility or preschool facility on or after September 1, 2008, shall annually receive at least one dose of influenza vaccine between September 1 and December 31 of each year.
• Every child born on or after January 1, 1997 and entering grade six on or after September 1, 2008 shall have received one (1) dose of Tdap (Tetanus, diptheria, acellular pertussis) given no earlier than the 10th birthday.
• Children entering or attending grade six on or after September 1, 2008 who received a Td booster dose less than five (5) years prior to entry or attendance shall not be required to receive a Tdap dose until five (5) years have elapsed from the last DTP/Dtap or Td dose.
• Every child born on or after Janary 1, 1997 and entering or attending grade six on or after September 1, 2008 shall have received one (1) dose of a meningococcal-containing vaccine, such as the medically-preferred meningococcal conjugate vaccine.

MEASLES (RUBEOLA)

Measles is a serious acute rash illness, with high fever and cold symptoms.  For those pupils born on or after January 1, 1990 and entering or attending a Kindergarten or Grade 1 class in New Jersey, two doses of a measles containing vaccine on or after the first birthday has been required.  Any pupil vaccinated with measles vaccine before their first birthday must be identified and re-vaccinated. 

RUBELLA (GERMAN MEASLES)

Although rubella is a mild disease in children, it can cause serious congenital malformations in the developing fetus. Under the current regulations, all entering or previously enrolled pupils are required to have one dose of rubella vaccine administered on or after their first birthday.  This dose is customarily administered at 15 months of age.

MUMPS

Mumps is usually considered a less severe disease than measles or rubella; however, serious complications can result especially among post-puberty infected persons.  The major symptoms are swollen or tender salivary glands, which cause the cheeks to swell. All entering or previously enrolled pupils are required to receive one dose of mumps vaccine on or after the first birthday in order to be in compliance with the current mumps regulation.  Mumps or MMR vaccine is customarily administered at 15 months of age in order to comply with this regulation.

HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZA B (Hib)

Before the development of a vaccine, haemophilus influenza type B was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis affecting children.  Vaccinating children 2 - 59 months of age can prevent this severe life-threatening disease. Children attending preschool settings should receive 2-3 age-appropriate doses of Hib vaccine before their first birthday.  Most children from 12-15 months of age to the fifth birthday will only require one dose of Hib vaccine.

HEPATITIS B

Acute hepatitis B is a serious liver disease. It can have a long incubation of up to 6 months.  It is rarely clinically recognized in children.  Since symptoms are often inapparent or not specific for hepatitis B virus, specific laboratory tests ordered by physicians are usually necessary to determine the diagnosis. In September 2001, all pupils entering Kindergarten/Grade 1 and Grade 6 in New Jersey were required to meet the hepatitis B vaccine requirement.

INFLUENZA

Influenza is an acute viral illness of the respiratory tract, characterized by fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, and a moderate to severe cough.  One of the hallmarks of influenza is its high attack rate, which causes a large number of illnesses to occur at the same time, and results in high absentee rates. Although the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is unable to directly supply influenza vaccine for all persons or children who may benefit from vaccination, the Department strongly encourages high risk individuals to receive the vaccine each Fall. High-risk individuals are generally elderly persons, children with chronic conditions such as asthma, sickle cell disease, etc., and those persons who are more likely to suffer complications from an influenza illness.        

VARICELLA

Varicella (chickenpox) is a common, usually mild, acute viral illness with a characteristic rash that most children contract before age 10.  A licensed vaccine recommended for universal use since 1995 can help prevent this disease.  Each year, a greater percentage of children are vaccinated.  Beginning September 2004, one dose of varicella vaccine on or after the first birthday or proof of disease immunity will be required of children 19 months of age or older in a child care center and those pupils entering Kindergarten or Grade 1 (whichever occurs first) born on or after January 1, 1998.