The State of Oklahoma requires all students entering the 7th grade to receive one Tdap booster to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their child’s healthcare provider to arrange for this immunization. Please note that the Tdap booster is separate from other childhood vaccinations. If your child has already received the Tdap booster, no additional dose is needed.
Once the vaccination is administered, please submit documentation to your student’s school health office. Middle school health offices will reopen on Aug. 1.
The Oklahoma Caring Van will be available in August to provide free immunizations to eligible students. Learn more at: https://www.baschools.org/article/1667915.
If you have any questions about the 7th grade immunization requirements, please contact Jennifer Klock at jklock@baschools.org.
Immunization Exemption Information
Parents/guardians who may have previously applied for and received an immunization exemption from the Oklahoma State Department of Health for their student due to medical conditions, religious concerns, or personal beliefs must submit a request to renew the exemption ahead of their student’s 7th grade year through the Oklahoma State Department of Health's online portal.
Due to a recent change in Oklahoma law, previous exemptions do not automatically carry over and must be renewed to remain valid. It is also important to note that exemption applications for 7th graders will not be accepted by the Oklahoma State Department of Health until the conclusion of the student’s 6th grade year. To ensure a smooth transition into 7th grade, parents/guardians are encouraged to plan accordingly and submit exemption requests to the Oklahoma Department of Health as soon as the student has completed the 6th grade. Once approved, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to provide a copy of the approved exemption to their child’s school.
For more information on immunization requirements and exemption requests, please visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health website.