What if the student is in foster care?
Children in foster care are not exempt from the Tdap law vaccination requirements. Under California Education Code Sections 48853.5 (d) and 49069.5 (e) as amended by AB 490 (Steinberg, 2003), a child in foster care in California who is transferring between schools must be immediately enrolled in the new school regardless of whether the pupil’s records from the school last attended, including immunization records, are present. If absent, the pupil’s records need to be requested from the old school within two business days, and then provided to the new school within an additional two days. Children in foster care who are transferring mid-year from another school in California will have been subject to the Tdap law at the prior school. CDPH recommends that schools work closely with local health departments as needed to give Tdap to unimmunized children in foster care. Local health departments can provide information about clinics and other accommodations for urgently needed immunizations.
