Children attending daycare and pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in New York state must receive all required doses of vaccines to attend or remain in school.

The governor’s office this week sent out a reminder with the required schedule. This includes all public, private, and religious schools. A medical exemption is allowed only when children have a medical condition that prevents them from receiving a vaccine. There are no nonmedical exemptions to school vaccine requirements in New York state. 

Parents should speak with a health-care provider about their child’s immunization records to catch up on any missing immunizations, the advisory said. Most private insurance plans are required to cover recommended vaccines at no cost.

The Vaccines for Children Program provides all recommended vaccines at no cost for children under age 19 who qualify.

While the COVID-19 vaccine is not required for school attendance, the governor and the state’s health department also recommend everyone speak to their health-care provider about staying up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines as a preventive measure. Though numbers remain low compared to the height of the pandemic, the latest data shows an increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions.

“It’s about personal protection, personal prevention and personal wellness,” said Health Commissioner James McDonald in the press release about vaccination. “We have the safest and most effective vaccines on the planet.”