Pre-Kindergarten Immunization Assessment Instructions

This page describes how to sort each child into a category at the time of online reporting (not to be used for initial screening for admission).  Information for this report must be obtained from the California School Immunization Record (Blue Card-CDPH286 | PDF) or equivalent record.

Reporting Tools:

• California Immunization Handbook (PDF)
• ​​Guide to Immunizations Required Pre-Kindergarten (PDF)​
• ​​Worksheet (Excel) ​| (PDF​)
  
• Reporting FAQs
  
• Online Training Pre-Kindergarten (Child Care)
  
• ​School Reporting Immunization Reporting (ca.gov)​​
  

1. Review each child’s Blue Card

Determine the immunization status for each child individually, by placing each Blue Card into its appropriate pile based on child's status, starting with either:  

• 6 group piles: “All Required Vaccine Doses,” “PME,” “Other,” “Conditional,” “TME" or “Overdue” or
  
• 2 group piles: “All Required Vaccine Doses” and “Missing Doses.” Then sort children with “Missing Doses” into their 5 separate piles: “PME,” “Other,” “Conditional,” “TME”or “Overdue”
  

Only report for children who are preschool aged: 2–5 years

Use the worksheet to list each student and mark their reporting status at the time of reporting. Most students have “All Required Vaccine Doses.” Students in the “Missing Doses” pile should be missing one or more required immunizations. 

Place each student in one of the categories below:
Only report for children who are preschool aged: 2–5 years

Unconditional Admission:

Requirements Met

Has All Required Vaccine Doses

• These children received all required doses according to the Pre-Kindergarten Guide (PDF). Their Blue Cards should also have a check in the “Has All Required Vaccine Doses” column under the “Status of Requirements” section.
• Do not include students who have proof of disease for chickenpox. Please see criteria for permanent medical exemptions.​

Requirements Met, But Missing Doses

PME- Permanent Medical Exemption

• These children submitted a Permanent Medical Exemption (PME) issued in CAIR-ME for one or more required vaccines (including history of chickenpox disease) and records for all other required vaccines. If you have a child in this category, sign up for access to CAIR-ME by emailing medicalexemptions@cdph.ca.gov.  ​​
  

Other: IEP Services

• These children access special education or related services required by their individualized education program (IEP). Only use this reporting category when a child does NOT fit into any other category.​
  

Conditional Admission, Needs Follow-up:

Conditional – Missing Doses Not Currently Due

• These children started receiving doses of all required vaccines but are NOT currently due for any doses at the time of reporting according to the Conditional Admission Schedule (PDF) in the Pre-Kindergarten Guide (PDF).
• No longer includes homeless and foster students who are awaiting records at time of reporting. Please see Overdue.​

TME- Temporary Medical Exemption​

• These children submitted a Temporary Medical Exemption (TME) issued in CAIR-ME for one or more vaccines and have submitted records for all other required vaccines. If you have a child in this category, sign up for access to CAIR-ME by emailing medicalexemptions@cdph.ca.gov.
  

Requirements Not Met, Missing Doses, Needs Follow-up:

Overdue- Needs Doses Now

• These children have missing doses that are overdue. The deadline listed in the “EXCLUDE IF NOT GIVEN BY” column of Conditional Admission Schedule (PDF)​ has passed. These children must not attend school until they receive their overdue doses.
• Homeless and foster students are allowed to enroll without records. Include them here if they are in the process of meeting requirements or waiting for records. If children do not have records, count them as missing all doses.​

2. Tally each child’s Reporting Status on the Worksheet

On the Worksheet…

• List each student and check the designated box of their status.
• For students missing any doses, tally which vaccine(s) are missing.
• If the student is not missing any vaccine(s) leave the vaccines missing blank.

Missing Doses by Vaccine:  

• Count the total of all children “Missing Doses” who do not have “All Required Vaccine Doses.”
  
• List each student missing any doses and check the designated box of their reporting status.
• Tally which vaccine(s) are missing. If the student is not missing any vaccine(s) leave the worksheet blank.
• Total the columns for the number of children in each reporting category and total number of children missing each vaccine. The total must be equal the total enrollment since each child is only in one group.
• The total number of students missing polio, DTaP, MMR, Hep B, Varicella or Hib vaccine must not exceed the number of children missing immunizations for any reason.
• In the example below, 4 students are missing doses. Each individual vaccine missing (Polio, DTaP, MMR, Hep B, Varicella, Hib) can only total up to 4.