SC Updates School Vaccine Requirements for 2025-26 School Year

The South Carolina Department of Public Health has released its updated annual vaccine requirements for all childcare and school students for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.

Among the key updates, fifth-grade students will now be required to receive two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine. Both doses must be administered on or after their first birthday and separated by a minimum of six months.

For students in seventh through twelfth grades, one dose of the Tdap vaccine is required, to be administered on or after their tenth birthday.

Additionally, eleventh-grade students are now required to have two doses of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. Children with a documented positive history of having had the disease are considered immune and will be exempt from this requirement.

Beyond these minimum requirements, the South Carolina Department of Public Health also issues recommendations for several other vaccines, advising them to provide broader protection for all children against various diseases.

Full details can be found here.