The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) will not waive the vaccine requirements nor will there be any extensions for the upcoming school year. Students will be expected to comply with all vaccine requirements prior to attending virtually or in-person at a New Jersey child care/preschool and school. New Jersey still allows for medical and religious exemptions when applicable.

The required vaccines are:

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

• You are entering the 6th grade
• You are between the ages of 10-12
• You are under the age of 64, never received Tdap before, and are due for your next Tetanus & Diphtheria (TD) booster (needed roughly every 10 years)
• You are under the age of 64 and are in close contact with infants under the age of 12 months (new mothers, fathers, daycare worker, grandparents, babysitters etc.)
• You got a severe cut or burn, protection after a wound

Meningococcal Vaccine

• You are entering the 6th grade
• You are between the ages of 11-12
• You are entering college for the first time and did not receive the vaccine earlier
• You are going back to college and will be living on campus and never got the vaccine previously
• You are traveling to a part of the world where the disease is common
• You were exposed to a Meningitis outbreak

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV)

• Males and females between the age of 9-26, regardless of whether they are sexually active or not, prevent cervical cancer and other types of cancer as well as prevent the most common sexually transmitted virus
• The recommended age for females is 11 or 12 years of age
• The vaccine is a 3 dose series 

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has received inquiries regarding the status of the immunization of pupils in school regulations (N.J.A.C. 8:57-4). The value of immunizations is even more evident during this pandemic: therefore, NJDOH will not waive the vaccine requirements nor will there be any extensions for the upcoming school year. Students will be expected to comply with all vaccine requirements prior to attending virtually or in-person at a New Jersey child care/preschool and school. New Jersey still allows for medical and religious exemptions when applicable.

The potential for the spread of infectious diseases is increased whenever individuals are brought into group settings. New Jersey has minimum vaccine requirements for school attendance. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommended immunization is encouraged to provide optimal protection from vaccine-preventable diseases. Ensuring that vaccines are up-to-date can help protect schools and communities from vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information please visit the New Jersey Immunization Requirements and the New Jersey Immunization Frequently Asked Questions websites.

Please be reminded that the State of New Jersey mandates certain immunization requirements for school attendance. Noncompliance will result in exclusion from attending school. 

An immunization guidance grid is available on-line at: www.nj.gov/health/forms/imm-7.pdf . 

Your child's School Health Record remains with them through Grade 12. Therefore, should you child receive an inoculation at any time during the year, including the summer months, please provide the type of vaccine with the date administered to your school nurse. 

***********Special Notice Regarding All Sixth Graders : New Jersey requires additional vaccinations for students Entering Sixth Grade to help protect preteens and teens against two serious diseases: Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) and Pertussis (Whooping Cough). These are required for attendance as a student in Shrewsbury Borough School. Failure to comply with the immunization regulation is cause for exclusion from school. Thank You for your Cooperation. 

For further information with regards to immunization requirements, as well as resources, and frequently asked questions: 

http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/imm.shtml