Healthy Kids Are Everybody’s Job

A Guide to Minnesota’s Immunization Law for Parents with Children in Child Care and

Early Childhood Programs

Minnesota Department of Health – Immunization Program

Immunization ProgramP.O. Box 64975St. Paul, MN 55164-0975651-201-5503, 1-800-657-3970www.health.state.mn.us/immunize

IC#141-0211 (MDH, 5/14)

Do I Need to Keep Track of My Child’s Shots?Yes, you will need your child’s shot records often – for child care, early childhood programs, school, camp, sports programs, and doctor visits. Keep a shot record for each of your children. Take it with you to all doctor and clinic visits and have it updated each time your child receives a shot.

The Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) can also help. MIIC is a statewide, confidential system for storing shot information all in one place. This can be a real time-saver, especially if you change clinics, move, or lose your child’s shot record. MIIC also helps your child’s doctor know which shots are due and makes sure your child doesn’t receive the same shot twice from different clinics.

Are Shots Required for Child Care and Early Childhood Programs?Yes, the DTaP, polio, MMR, chickenpox, pneumococcal, Hib, and Hepatitis A and B shots are required for child care and early childhood programs. The only children who are not required to be immunized are those who have medical reasons for not receiving certain shots or who are legally exempt

because of their parents’ personal beliefs. A child care or early childhood program provider can refuse to admit your child if he or she doesn’t have documentation of either the shots or a legal exemption.

Rotavirus and flu vaccines are not required but are highly recommended for all infants and young children.

Why Should I Immunize My Child?Parents who don’t get their children immunized early in life may be putting them at risk for a number of childhood diseases. These diseases can cause serious health problems and may even result in death.

Minnesota children are still getting diseases such as measles, whooping cough (pertussis), and mumps. These diseases are contagious. They can spread rapidly – especially among groups of children who haven’t received their shots. And some of them, like whooping cough, are much more serious for children than they are for adults. As a parent, you can protect your children by making sure they get all their shots.

When Should My Child Get Shots?A child gets their first vaccine at birth, and will continue to need vaccines throughout their lives.

It’s important to get shots at the right ages. Shots will protect best at these ages. See your child’s primary doctor for immunizations. If you don’t have a doctor or are concerned about the cost of shots, call your local health department.

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Are Shots Required for Child Care and Early Childhood Programs?Yes, the DTaP, polio, MMR, chickenpox, pneumococcal, Hib, and Hepatitis A and B shots are required for child care and early childhood programs. The only children who are not required to be immunized are those who have medical reasons for not receiving certain shots or who are legally exempt

because of their parents’ personal beliefs. A child care or early childhood program provider can refuse to admit your child if he or she doesn’t have documentation of either the shots or a legal exemption.

Rotavirus and flu vaccines are not required but are highly recommended for all infants and young children.

Why Should I Immunize My Child?Parents who don’t get their children immunized early in life may be putting them at risk for a number of childhood diseases. These diseases can cause serious health problems and may even result in death.

Minnesota children are still getting diseases such as measles, whooping cough (pertussis), and mumps. These diseases are contagious. They can spread rapidly – especially among groups of children who haven’t received their shots. And some of them, like whooping cough, are much more serious for children than they are for adults. As a parent, you can protect your children by making sure they get all their shots.

When Should My Child Get Shots?A child gets their first vaccine at birth, and will continue to need vaccines throughout their lives.

It’s important to get shots at the right ages. Shots will protect best at these ages. See your child’s primary doctor for immunizations. If you don’t have a doctor or are concerned about the cost of shots, call your local health department.

Wh

en

to

Ge

t V

ac

cin

es

Bir

th2

mo

nt

hs

4 m

on

th

s6

m

on

th

s12

m

on

th

s15

m

on

th

s18

m

on

th

s4-

6 y

ea

rs

Hep

B

PC

V

RV

Hib

IPV

(6-1

8 m

onth

s)

PC

V

RV

Hib

*

DTa

P

IPV

PC

V

RV

*

Hib

Hep

B*

(6-1

8 m

onth

s)

DTa

P

MM

R (1

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mon

ths)

Hib

(12-

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A (2

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ths

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P

Hep

B*

(1

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dos

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Var

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Influ

enza

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ually

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mon

ths

and

olde

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med

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ditio

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acci

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Tal

k to

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This

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how

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ldre

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with

dot

ted

lines

sho

w w

hich

sho

ts a

re re

quire

d fo

r chi

ld

care

or e

arly

chi

ldho

od p

rogr

ams.

Healthy Kids Are Everybody’s Job

A Guide to Minnesota’s Immunization Law for Parents with Children in Child Care and

Early Childhood Programs

Minnesota Department of Health – Immunization Program

Immunization ProgramP.O. Box 64975St. Paul, MN 55164-0975651-201-5503, 1-800-657-3970www.health.state.mn.us/immunize

IC#141-0211 (MDH, 5/14)

Do I Need to Keep Track of My Child’s Shots?Yes, you will need your child’s shot records often – for child care, early childhood programs, school, camp, sports programs, and doctor visits. Keep a shot record for each of your children. Take it with you to all doctor and clinic visits and have it updated each time your child receives a shot.

The Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) can also help. MIIC is a statewide, confidential system for storing shot information all in one place. This can be a real time-saver, especially if you change clinics, move, or lose your child’s shot record. MIIC also helps your child’s doctor know which shots are due and makes sure your child doesn’t receive the same shot twice from different clinics.