As families get ready to return to school, BCSD would like to remind its parents of the following information regarding student immunizations and medications.
Immunizations
Each year the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) provides the South Carolina Immunization Requirements for Childcare and School. This communication provides the school and childcare entry requirements for immunizations for the 2026-2027 school year. Included are general guidance and specific requirements for childcare and school attendance.
Childcare and school immunization requirements are minimum requirements. Several other vaccines are recommended to protect all children against diseases. Although they may not be required for childcare or school entry, DPH recommends all age-appropriate vaccines for children.
Changes for the 2026-2027 school year include the following grades:
Twelfth grade: two (2) doses of varicella. A child with a positive history of the disease is considered immune and is exempt from this requirement.
Sixth grade: two (2) doses of hepatitis A vaccine with both doses received on or after the first birthday and separated by at least 6 months.
Students enrolled in grades 5K to 12 in both public and private schools must be up to date on the following shots based on their grade level:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
DTaP (tetanus, whooping cough)
Polio
Measles, mumps, rubella
Varicella (chickenpox)
Tdap (whooping cough booster required before seventh grade)
Vaccines are important to protect students from diseases such as measles, chicken pox, and whooping cough, which can spread easily in schools.
Additionally, children in childcare must be up to date on the following shots based on their age. Childcare includes nursery or preschool programs (4K and younger) or any licensed childcare center.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
DTaP (whooping cough, tetanus)
Polio
Pneumococcal (pneumonia)
Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib)
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
Varicella (chickenpox)
Department of Public Health Letter
Childcare Immunization Requirements – English
Childcare Immunization Requirements – Spanish
5K-12 Immunization Requirements - English
5K-12 Immunization Requirements - Spanish
Medications
BCSD would also like to remind its families of the protocol for giving prescription and non-prescription medicines at school:
In order for a child to be given non-prescription medicines at school, the child’s parent/guardian must sign a permission form. Schools may have special rules for non-prescription medicines and may require parents or guardian to sign additional forms.
In order for a child to be given a prescription medicine at school, the child’s health care practitioner and the child’s parent or guardian should sign a separate permission form. Because the instructions for some medications require more space than is provided on the form, some health care practitioners may prefer to use a practice specific form.
In both cases, schools may have special rules for prescription medicines and may require parents or guardians to sign additional forms. A responsible adult should deliver the medicine and the permission form to the school. The medicine must be in the original container with the label on it.