In Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, kids cannot legally attend public and most private schools unless the school has documented proof that they are up to date on all vaccines required by that jurisdiction’s health department.
This guide shows parents how school vaccine requirements work in the DMV and where families can get their kids’ shots.
How school vaccine rules work in the DMV
All three jurisdictions treat immunizations as a condition of school attendance. That means schools must have an official immunization certificate or health form signed by a licensed provider, or an electronic immunization registry record.
Across the DMV, the bottom line for families is the same:
- Schools must review immunization records and flag missing doses.
- Families get notices if something is missing or not documented.
- If nothing changes by the deadline and there’s no exemption on file, schools can temporarily exclude the student until vaccines or forms are updated.
Here’s what each area needs to know:
Virginia
Which Virginia schools are covered:
Virginia’s immunization law applies to public and private schools as well as licensed child‑care centers, nursery schools, family day homes and developmental centers.
Required vaccinations:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Hepatitis B
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Hepatitis A
- Hib, pneumococcal and rotavirus (for younger children in child‑care)
For older students
Students entering seventh grade must receive Tdap booster and meningococcal and a second MenACWY is required before 12th grade. HPV is required before seventh grade but parents can decline.
Who can be excluded in Virginia, and when:
Staying up to date is required for admission to all covered schools. Students must have proof of immunizations or an exemption, or be admitted conditionally if they’ve started each series with a plan to finish within 90 calendar days (180 for hepatitis B). If they don’t complete vaccines on schedule and no exemption is filed, the school must exclude them until documentation is updated.
Washington, DC
Which DC schools are covered
DC law requires written immunization certification for each student attending a DC public school or public charter school, documenting that they’ve been immunized according to DC Health’s schedule. DC’s Immunization of School Students law also applies to private, parochial and independent schools.
DC Public Schools’ health requirements page summarizes the core vaccines that students must have. Required vaccinations:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Poliomyelitis
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Hepatitis B
- Varicella (chickenpox).
For older students:
- Students 11 or older must receive a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine or submit an HPV opt‑out form each school year.
- DC Health guidance also highlights Tdap and meningococcal (MenACWY) as required adolescent boosters in middle and high school.
Who can be excluded in DC, and when
Staying up to date is required in all grades. Once a student is due for a vaccine, that student is considered non‑compliant with DC’s mandate until the shot is given and documented. In practice, exclusion is limited to four grades. For 2025–26, students who are not compliant may be excluded only if they are in Pre‑K3, kindergarten, seventh grade or 11th grade. For the 2025–26 year, DC set Dec. 8, 2025 as the citywide deadline.
Students with medical or religious exemptions, students with an annual HPV opt‑out and students identified as homeless are not supposed to be excluded. Visit DC Health for additional information about requesting exemptions.
Maryland
Maryland State Law mandates all students enrolled in both public and nonpublic schools to receive required immunizations. Preschool programs, child‑care centers and private schools must follow the same minimum vaccine requirements as public districts.
Required vaccinations:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Hepatitis B
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Hib and pneumococcal (for younger children)
- Meningococcal (for older students)
For older students
Students in middle school must receive a Tdap booster and meningococcal vaccine. HPV is not compulsory for school entry in Maryland.
Who can be excluded in Maryland, and when:
Maryland uses a 20‑day “temporary admission” rule rather than a single statewide exclusion date.
- Students without proof of required vaccines may be temporarily admitted if families show evidence of a scheduled appointment to obtain vaccines, reconstruct records or obtain lab evidence of immunity.
- This temporary status may not exceed 20 calendar days from the date of admission or retention.
Students with approved medical or religious exemptions are not excluded for missing doses. Visit Maryland Department of Health for additional information about requesting exemptions,
What this means for DMV families:
For families in the DMV, have your child’s pediatrician review their record against your jurisdiction’s school requirements. If you’re behind or don’t have a regular provider for your children, check out DC Health’s clinic locator, Maryland Department of Health Center for Immunization and Virginia vaccine provider locator.DC School Immunization Requirements Guide 2024
Looking for somewhere to get your children vaccinated? Check out Washington Parent’s 2025 pediatrician picks:
Washington, DC
Washington Parent Pick Winner: Healthy Home Pediatrics – (202) 930-9669
Washington Parent Pick Finalist: Children’s National Hospital – (202) 476-5000
Maryland
Washington Parent Pick Winner: Nana Adu-Amankwa, MD – (240) 499-8664
Washington Parent Pick Finalist: Potomac Pediatrics – (301) 279-6750
Washington Parent Pick Finalist: Hirsch Pediatrics – (301) 990-3030
Virginia
Washington Parent Pick Winner: Capital Area Pediatrics – (703) 359-5100
Washington Parent Pick Finalist: Northern Virginia Pediatric Associates – (703) 532-4446
