Illinois requires proof of vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib, pneumococcal disease, and meningitis before a child can attend school. The exact doses depend on the grade your child is entering. The Illinois Department of Public Health sets these minimums, and they apply to public, private, and parochial schools. The latest deadline a district may set is October 15, though many local districts require records earlier. Physical exams are also required before first entry, kindergarten, sixth grade, and ninth grade. Below is the requirement list by grade and where to get the shots.
Illinois School Vaccine Requirements by Grade
| Grade | Key Requirements |
| Preschool and child care | 4 DTaP, 3 polio (age 24 months and up), 1 MMR, 1 varicella, 3 hepatitis B, plus Hib and PCV per ACIP |
| Kindergarten or first entry | 4 or more DTaP with the booster on or after the 4th birthday, 4 polio, 2 MMR, 2 varicella. No hepatitis B, Hib or PCV |
| Grades 1 to 5 | Same as kindergarten. DTaP, polio, 2 MMR, 2 varicella on record. Hepatitis B still not required |
| Grade 6 | Everything above plus 1 Tdap at age 11 or older, 1 MenACWY at age 11 or older, and 3 hepatitis B |
| Grades 7 to 11 | Tdap, 1 MenACWY, 3 hepatitis B, plus DTaP, polio, 2 MMR and 2 varicella on record |
| Grade 12 | 2 MenACWY, the second on or after the 16th birthday. Only 1 dose if the first came at 16 or older |
Dose counts and spacing depend on your child’s vaccination history, so IDPH allows some variation. Your school nurse can tell you exactly what is missing.
What Else Illinois Requires Besides Shots
Vaccines are only part of it. Illinois also requires a physical exam before a child first enters school, and again before kindergarten or first grade, sixth grade, and ninth grade. An eye exam is required for kindergarten and for children new to Illinois schools. Dental exams are required at certain grades. Students missing any of these can be kept out of class, not just those missing vaccines.
Where to Get School Vaccines Near Glen Ellyn
You have options. Your child’s pediatrician is the usual route and keeps the full record. Pharmacies can handle some of these vaccines, though Illinois sets age limits on what a pharmacist may administer, and those limits changed recently. Call ahead. VillageRx offers vaccinations and can tell you what we can give your child and what needs the pediatrician. Every dose we give is reported to the state registry.
Final Thoughts
Do not wait until October. Records take time to gather and appointments fill up in August. Check your district’s own deadline, since many are earlier than the state’s October 15 limit. Contact VillageRx at 546 Duane St., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 to ask which required vaccines our pharmacy can provide for your child this year.