Health and Safety

Immunization Policy:

Every student enrolled in a Catholic School in the State of Texas shall be immunized against vaccine preventable diseases caused by infectious agents in accordance with the immunization schedule adopted by the Texas Department of State Health Services.  A student who fails to present the required evidence shall not be accepted for enrollment.  The only exception to the foregoing requirement is a medical exemption signed by a licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.) authorized to practice in the State of Texas.

This policy was adopted by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department, December 2008 and voted on April 3, 2017 to keep as written with no changes.
For current immunization information and minimum requirements, changes and explanations after this manual was printed, contact the Immunization Division, Texas Department of State Health Services.
Online: www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/default.shtm OR http://www.immunizetexas.com
Phone: 512.458.7284 ext. 2316 OR 1.800.252.9152
Regional Texas Department of State Health Services: The Texas Department of State Health Services maintains regional offices for the 11 Public Health Regions.  Regional offices can assist with minimum immunization requirement information and literature and in some cases may provide immunization clinics in your school.  To determine your region:
Online: www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/default.shtm
Phone: 1.888.963.7111 (toll free) or 512.458.7111

Provisional enrollment:

All immunizations should be completed by the first date of attendance.  The law requires that students be fully vaccinated against the 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 dose 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 provisionally enrolled students 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 excludes the student from school attendance until the required dose is administered.