139A.8 Immunization of children.
1. A parent or legal guardian shall assure that the person’s minor children residing in the state are adequately immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubeola, rubella, and varicella, according to recommendations provided by the department subject to the provisions of subsections 3 and 4.
2. a. A person shall not be enrolled in any licensed child care center or elementary or secondary school in Iowa without evidence of adequate immunizations against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubeola, rubella, and varicella.
b. Evidence of adequate immunization against haemophilus influenza B and invasive pneumococcal disease shall be required prior to enrollment in any licensed child care center.
c. Evidence of hepatitis type B immunization shall be required of a child born on or after July 1, 1994, prior to enrollment in school in kindergarten or in a grade.
d. Immunizations shall be provided according to recommendations provided by the department subject to the provisions of subsections 3 and 4.
e. A person shall not be enrolled in school in the seventh grade or twelfth grade in Iowa without evidence of adequate immunization against meningococcal disease in accordance with standards approved by the United States public health service of the United States department of health and human services for such biological products and in accordance with immunization practices recommended by the advisory committee on immunization practices of the centers for disease control and prevention.
3. Subject to the provision of subsection 4, the state board of health may modify or delete any of the immunizations in subsection 2.
4. a. Immunization is not required for a person’s enrollment in any elementary or secondary school or licensed child care center if either of the following applies:
(1) The applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, submits to the admitting official a statement signed by a physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who is licensed by the board of medicine, board of nursing, or board of physician assistants that the immunizations required would be injurious to the health and well-being of the applicant or any member of the applicant’s family.
(2) The applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, submits an affidavit signed by the applicant, or if the applicant is a minor, the applicant’s parent or legal guardian, stating that the immunization conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized religious denomination of which the applicant is an adherent or member.
b. The exemptions under this subsection do not apply in times of emergency or epidemic as determined by the state board of health and as declared by the director of public health.
5. A person may be provisionally enrolled in an elementary or secondary school or licensed child care center if the person has begun the required immunizations and if the person continues to receive the necessary immunizations as rapidly as is medically feasible. The department shall adopt rules relating to the provisional admission of persons to an elementary or secondary school or licensed child care center.
6. The local board shall furnish the department, within sixty days after the first official day of school, evidence that each person enrolled in any elementary or secondary school has been immunized as required in this section subject to subsection 4. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A relating to the reporting of evidence of immunization.
7. Local boards shall provide the required immunizations to children in areas where no local provision of these services exists.
8. The department, in consultation with the director of the department of education, shall adopt rules for the implementation of this section and shall provide those rules to local school boards and local boards.
2000 Acts, ch 1066, §8; 2003 Acts, ch 78, §1 – 3; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §24; 2007 Acts, ch 11, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263; 2016 Acts, ch 1139, §92; 2017 Acts, ch 29, §41
Referred to in §239B.12, 299.4
Structure Iowa Code
Chapter 139A - COMMUNICABLE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND POISONINGS
Section 139A.3 - Reports to department — immunity — confidentiality — investigations.
Section 139A.3A - Investigation and control.
Section 139A.4 - Type and length of isolation or quarantine.
Section 139A.5 - Isolation or quarantine signs erected.
Section 139A.6 - Communicable diseases.
Section 139A.7 - Diseased persons moving — record forwarded.
Section 139A.8 - Immunization of children.
Section 139A.8A - Vaccine shortage — department order — immunity.
Section 139A.9 - Forcible removal — isolation — quarantine.
Section 139A.10 - Fees for removing.
Section 139A.11 - Services and supplies — isolation — quarantine.
Section 139A.12 - County liability for care, provisions, and medical attendance.
Section 139A.13 - Rights of isolated or quarantined persons.
Section 139A.13A - Employment protection.
Section 139A.14 - Services or supplies — authorization.
Section 139A.15 - Filing of bills.
Section 139A.16 - Allowing claims.
Section 139A.17 - Approval and payment of claims.
Section 139A.18 - Reimbursement from county.
Section 139A.19 - Care provider notification.
Section 139A.20 - Exposing to communicable disease.
Section 139A.21 - Reportable poisonings and illnesses.
Section 139A.22 - Prevention of transmission of HIV or HBV to patients.
Section 139A.23 - Contingent repeal.
Section 139A.24 - Blood donation or sale — penalty.
Section 139A.26 - Meningococcal disease vaccination information for postsecondary students.
Section 139A.30 - Confidential reports.
Section 139A.31 - Report to department.
Section 139A.32 - Examination results from laboratory — report.
Section 139A.33 - Partner notification program.
Section 139A.34 - Examination of persons suspected.
Section 139A.36 - Certificate not to be issued.
Section 139A.37 - Pregnant women.
Section 139A.38 - Medical treatment of newly born.
Section 139A.39 - Religious exceptions.