B – 006What immunization requirements should be followed?
Children in Head Start and Early Head Start programs must be immunized according to their State Medicaid EPSDT schedule for immunizations, not according to each child’s doctor’s recommendations. In many instances, State Medicaid EPSDT immunization requirements are the same as the recommendations for childhood immunizations outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For Head Start programs located in a state where state Medicaid EPSDT requirements differ from the CDC recommendations, the program’s Health Services Advisory Committee may, in accordance with 1304.20(a)(1)(ii), require children receive the additional immunizations as recommended by the CDC. Each state determines the guidelines for exemptions from immunizations due to medical, religious or other reasons. If a child in Head Start has a medical exemption that meets all the requirements of the State immunization exemption guidelines, they do not need to be immunized according to the State immunization sch
