Immunization Requirements
Required Immunizations
In compliance with House Bill (HB) 1059, the Emily Lastinger Act, Trinity ISD provides information on the required immunizations for school attendance and a list of the recommended vaccinations.
A student shall show evidence of vaccination prior to entry, attendance, or transfer to a child-care facility, or public or private elementary or secondary school in the state of Texas.
All immunizations should be completed by the first date of attendance. The law requires that students be fully vaccinated against specified diseases. A student may be enrolled provisionally if the student has an immunization record that indicates the student has received at least one dose of each specified age-appropriate vaccine required by this rule. To remain enrolled, the student must complete the required subsequent doses in each vaccine series on schedule and as rapidly as is medically feasible and provide acceptable evidence of vaccination to the school. A school nurse or school administrator shall review the immunization status of a provisionally enrolled student every 30 days to ensure continued compliance in completing the required doses of vaccination. If, at the end of the 30-day period, a student has not received a subsequent dose of vaccine, the student is not in compliance and the school shall exclude the student from school attendance until the required dose is administered.
For children needing medical exemptions, a written statement by a physician should be submitted to the school nurse or campus registrar. Exemptions may also be granted for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Additional information can be located on the ImmunizeTexas web site.
Immunization Exemptions for Medical Reasons
To claim an exclusion for medical reasons, the child or student must present an exemption statement to the school or child-care facility, dated and signed by a physician (M.D. or D.O.), properly licensed and in good standing in any state in the United States who has examined the child or student. The statement must state that, in the physician's opinion, the vaccine required is medically contraindicated or poses a significant risk to the health and well-being of the child or student or any member of the child's or student's household. Unless it is written in the statement that a lifelong condition exists, the exemption statement is valid for only one year from the date signed by the physician.
Obtaining an Affidavit
A person claiming exclusion for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, from a required immunization may only obtain the affidavit form by submitting a request (via online form, mail, fax or hand-delivery) to the department. The request must include following information:
- Full name of child or student
- Child's or student's date of birth (month/day/year)
- Complete mailing address, including telephone number
- Number of requested affidavit forms (not to exceed 5).
Affidavit form requests will be processed and mailed within one week from the receipt of the request. If additional information is needed in order to process the affidavit, you will be notified.
Email or telephone requests cannot be processed. Requests for affidavit forms must be submitted to the department through one of the following methods:
Obtaining an Affidavit Online
Affidavits may be requested via the Immunization Unit Affidavit Request website.
Obtaining an Affidavit By Mail
A written request for an affidavit may be sent through the United States Postal Service (or other commercial carrier) to:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Immunization Branch, Mail Code 1946
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, Texas 78714-9347
Obtaining an Affidavit By Fax
Fax written requests for affidavits to: (512) 776-7544.
Obtaining an Affidavit In Person
Requests for an affidavit may be made in-person at:
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756
NOTE: No requests will be filled at the time of hand-delivery.
All affidavit forms will be mailed to you via U.S. Postal Service.