Immunizations & Vaccinations In Honolulu

Required Immunizations for School in Hawaii

Every state, including Hawaii, has requirements for medical exams and immunizations. Hawaii updated the school immunization requirements for enrollment as of July 1, 2020; the new rules apply to children attending preschools, child care centers, kindergarten, elementary schools, high schools, and post-secondary schools. Doctors of Waikiki can help you get your children into the classroom, a service not provided by most urgent care clinics. Here are some requirements to be aware of when enrolling children into a daycare or school in Hawaii.

Vaccination Required for School

Immunizations are required for children in daycare, preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, high school, and post-secondary institutions. All children entering Hawaii schools for the first time must comply with the requirements regardless of age. The school immunization requirements required vary based on the age of the children.

• Childcare or preschool:

  Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), Hep A, Hep B, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), PCV, IPV, and chickenpox

• Kindergarten, elementary school, and high school:

  Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP), Hep A, Hep B, HPV, MCV, MMR, IPV, Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap), and chickenpox. The HPV, MCV, and Tdap vaccines are administered before the student begins seventh grade.

• Post-secondary institutions:

  Two doses each of measles, mumps, and rubella, and chickenpox, one dose of Tdap, and one dose of MCV on or after the 16th birthday

Students must produce documentation to meet the requirements before enrolling in a school or child care center in Hawaii, regardless of whether the institution is public, private, or charter. Here are some ways to meet the vaccine requirements.

• An immunization record, either signed or stamped, by the United States licensed medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), physician assistant (PA), or clinic must show the date of each immunization. Some providers only list the month and year, but this is only acceptable if it’s clear that the vaccines were appropriately spaced.

• Instead of an immunization record, a blood test showing lab evidence of immunity is acceptable. It must be signed by a medical professional with the same qualifications as an immunization record.

• The student may have a 45-day grace period if you submit documentation that you have an appointment scheduled to complete the required vaccines.

Any person born before 1957 is exempt from the MMR immunization requirements.

Tuberculosis Test Hawaii

Children enrolling in Hawaii schools must have a screening for tuberculosis. The documentation should show a Quantiferon Gold In-Tube, Negative Risk Screen completed within 12 months of enrollment or after the 16th birthday. The test involves a small blood draw for testing in the laboratory. Results are available within 24 hours, and you don’t have to return to the clinic for follow-up.

The certificate is required before you can enroll in any post-secondary school for a course of study longer than six months. An appropriately licensed health care professional or the Hawaii Department of Health may issue the certificate. It must reflect the date the test was administered and read and the signature of the health professional. If a student has had a positive tuberculosis screening, they may have a chest X-ray instead of the lab test.

Physical Examination

Within one year of the first attendance at a childcare facility, preschool, or other schools in Hawaii, the student must have a physical exam performed by a physician licensed in the United States, an APRN, or a PA. Another physical is required with one year of attending the seventh grade. The Student Health Record Form documenting the physical exam also includes a certification that immunization requirements are met. You can obtain these forms from the school or child care facility your student will attend or from your child’s healthcare provider. An appointment notice may substitute for the physical examination form if you are in the process of completing the requirements.

Suppose your child is coming from another state or territory within the United States. In that case, you may submit documentation from that state, as long as it meets Hawaii’s immunization requirements, tuberculosis screening specifics, and physical exam rules.

Exemptions From the Requirements

Students may be exempt for medical or religious reasons. However, you must submit the appropriate documentation. You can find the forms for religious exemption at child care centers or schools. Medical exemption forms must come from your child’s healthcare provider. Medical and religious exemptions are the only ones recognized by the state of Hawaii.

Learning More About School Enrollment Requirements

At Doctors of Waikiki, we can help with all school and child care enrollment requirements for your children, including vaccinations. Contact us today to get started. Walk-ins are welcome; no appointment necessary.

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