Dell Rapids Public School News

New 6th Grade Vaccination Requirements

The South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) is now revising its administrative rules to require both the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) and MCV4 (Meningococcal ACYW) vaccines for entry into the 6th grade beginning with the 2016-17 school year. Vaccine requirements for kindergarten entry have been in place for many years but this will be the first such requirement for middle school entry in South Dakota.

The change is a direct result of Senate Bill 28, which was passed by the 2016 South Dakota Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Daugaard. SB 28 adds meningococcal infection to the list of diseases specified in South Dakota Codified Law 13-28-7.1 for which Department of Education, based on recommendations from the Department of Health can require vaccination for school entry in South Dakota.

With the change, school entry requirements for South Dakota 6th grade students include:

* One dose of Tdap vaccine

* One dose of MCV4

* The requirements apply only for 6th grade entry and transfer students 6th to 12th grade

* If a child is 10 years old when entering the 6th grade they have 45 days after their 11th birthday to be vaccinated