California Health Laws mandate that all students under the age of 18, from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, must be immunized against certain diseases unless exempt for medical reasons. At the time of registration, schools are required to have proof that your child has received all immunizations that are currently due.

To ensure your child is fully immunized, please consult with your pediatrician, family physician, or the Sierra Vista Children’s Health Center. If these immunization requirements are not met, your child will be excluded from attending school.

Special Education

All students are strongly encouraged to receive the required immunizations. This policy does not prevent students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from accessing the special education and related services outlined in their IEP. However, to protect the health and safety of the child and other students, the child may be excluded from school for extended periods during outbreaks or exposure to diseases for which immunizations have not been completed (CCR Section 6060).

For directions on how to obtain a medical waiver for your child, go to the California Department of Public Health - Shots for School website.   How to Obtain a Medical Exemption

What were the main changes to the medical exemption process that came into effect under Senate Bills (SB) 276 and SB 714 (Pan, 2019)?

Beginning January 1, 2021, all new medical exemptions for school entry must be issued through CAIR-ME. Medical exemptions can only be issued by MDs or DOs licensed in California and must meet applicable Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) criteria.

Are medical exemptions filed for children in attendance at a California school before 2021 valid in later years?

A medical exemption filed at school remains valid until the earliest of:

• When the child enrolls in the next grade span (TK/K-6th grade, 7th-12th grade)
• The expiration date specified in a temporary medical exemption
• Revocation of the exemption because the issuing physician has been subject to disciplinary action from the physician’s licensing entity.

A doctor has told a child’s parents that their child needs a medical exemption from a required immunization. How do parents get a medical exemption for their child?

Starting January 1, 2021, all new medical exemptions for school entry must be issued through CAIR-ME.   Parents can create an account in CAIR-ME and apply for an exemption. They will receive an exemption application number to give to their child’s physician. The physician can register for an account in CAIR-ME and log in to issue the ME.  Once the ME is issued, the physician prints the form and provides a copy to the parents to give to their child’s school.

Does a child with an existing medical exemption in CAIR-ME need a new medical exemption if the child enrolls in a new school within the same grade span?

No, a parent can present the medical exemption issued previously in CAIR-ME to the new school, but the school information must be updated in CAIR-ME.  Parents must log in to CAIR-ME, update the school information, and show proof of the change to the new school. Parents will be able to print a copy of the changes to show the school.  

All new admission and transfer students will undergo an assessment to determine their risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) by completing the Student School Entry TB Risk Assessment Questionnaire. Students who have risk factors—including but not limited to birth, travel, or residence in a country with a high TB rate for at least one month, use of medications that suppress the immune system, or close contact with someone diagnosed with TB—should undergo a Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or QuantiFERON-TB Gold test. A Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or QuantiFERON-TB Gold test may be required for your child to attend or return to school.

For any questions, contact the Sierra Vista Children’s Health Center at (559) 327-7976.