Information for Providers

School Immunization Requirements

Documentation of Immunization

The Florida Certification of Immunization, DH Form 680, must be used to document receipt of immunizations required for entry and attendance in Florida schools.

• SAMPLE DH Form 680 - Florida Certification of Immunization: Manual
  (Stock number: 5740-000-0680-6 - 200/PK)

The Florida State Health Online Tracking System (Florida SHOTS™) is a free, statewide, centralized online immunization registry that helps healthcare providers, schools, and parents keep track of immunization records. A Florida SHOTS™ DH Form 680, certified with electronic signature, may be printed by enrolled healthcare providers and is also accessible to any school, licensed childcare facility or daycare center enrolled in Florida SHOTS™.

• SAMPLE DH Form 680 - Florida Certification of Immunization: Computer
  (Stock number: 5740-099-0680-0 - 200/PK)

You can also provide parents with a personal wallet-sized immunization record.

• DH Form 686 Immunization Record
  (Stock number: 5740-000-0686-5 - 200/PK)

Healthcare providers may obtain these forms by contacting their local county health department (CHD) or by ordering from the Department of Health Distribution Center by sending DH Form 1464, 7/06 with a shipping fee.

Print out the order form and follow the instructions on the form.

• Order using the applicable stock number.
• Indicate quantity.
• Call the distribution center for applicable shipping fee at (850) 414-8086.
• Include your check for shipping charges with your order to prevent delay.
• Please mail order form and shipping fee to:
  Florida Department of Health Distribution Center
  104-3 Hamilton Park Drive
  Tallahassee, FL 32304
  (850) 414-8086

After your order is received, your materials will be shipped the next business day.

Immunization Requirements for Children Entering or Attending Childcare, Family Daycare, Preschool or School

Florida immunization requirements are found in Immunization Guidelines for Florida Schools, Childcare Facilities, and Family Daycare Homes, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 64D-3.046, Florida Administrative Code. This guide provides technical assistance for healthcare professionals, schools, preschools, childcare and family daycare operators.

Immunizations Required for Childcare and/or Family Daycare (up-to-date for age):

• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP)
• Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Pneumococcal conjugate

Public/Non-public Preschool Entry (up-to-date for age):

• DTaP
• IPV
• MMR
• Hepatitis B (Hep B)
• Varicella
• Hib

Public/Non-public Schools Kindergarten Through 12th Grade (children entering, attending, or transferring to Florida schools):

• Four or five doses of DTaP
• Three, four, or five doses of IPV
• Two doses of MMR
• Two or three doses of Hep B
• Two doses of varicella* (kindergarten effective with 2008-2009 school year, then an additional grade is added each year thereafter)

*Varicella vaccine is not required if there is a history of varicella disease documented by the healthcare provider.

Additional Immunization Requirment for 7th Grade Entry:

Effective with 2009-2010 school year (then an additional grade is added each year thereafter), in addition to compliance with all other immunization requirements, children entering, attending, or transferring to the seventh grade in Florida schools must complete the following:

• One tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap)
  

Exemption from Required Immunizations

Private healthcare providers may grant a Temporary Medical Exemption (TME), documented on the DH Form 680, for those who are in the process of completing any necessary immunizations. The TME requires an expiration date after which the exemption is no longer valid, and the immunizations must be completed before or at that time.

A Permanent Medical Exemption, documented on the DH Form 680, can be granted if a child cannot be fully immunized due to medical reasons. In this case the child's physician must state, in writing, the reasons for exemption based on valid clinical reasoning or evidence.

A Religious Exemption From Immunization, DH Form 681, is issued if immunizations are in conflict with the religious tenets and practices of the child's parent or guardian. This exemption is issued by a CHD and based on established religious beliefs or practices only.

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