Massachusetts schools require documented immunization records for every enrolled student under 105 CMR 220.000. The key is knowing what the school needs, where those records live, and how to retrieve them fast — especially at grade transitions like 7th grade where two additional vaccines are required. Here is the practical guide.
Last verified: September 8, 2026
Massachusetts schools need a signed immunization record showing every required vaccine with dates. Under 105 CMR 220.000, the record must be signed by a licensed healthcare provider (physician, NP, or PA). Schools accept:
Immunization records Massachusetts schools require for K–6:
Source: Massachusetts DPH — Immunization Requirements for School Children; 105 CMR 220.000, accessed Aug 30, 2026
The Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) is the state's immunization registry. Every Massachusetts provider participating in MIIS reports doses given to the registry — so your child's MIIS record typically spans every provider they've ever seen in Massachusetts, not just the current pediatrician.
How to get a MIIS record:
Important — out-of-state records don't transfer automatically: If your child received vaccines in another state before moving to Massachusetts, those doses are likely not in MIIS. Bring paper records from prior providers to the pediatrician appointment so the provider can incorporate them into the current record.
(Source: Massachusetts DPH — MIIS, accessed Aug 30, 2026)
The 7th-grade transition is where many Massachusetts families discover gaps. Under 105 CMR 220.000, students entering 7th grade must have two additional immunization records on file:
These two vaccines are frequently missing from records of students transferring from states that set the 7th-grade checkpoint earlier or later. If your child is entering 7th grade — or 12th grade — verify these records before the first day of school, not on it. Ask your pediatrician whether dose timing is correct based on your child's specific history.
Source: Massachusetts DPH — Immunization Requirements; 105 CMR 220.000, accessed Aug 30, 2026
Massachusetts pediatricians are booked months out in summer. If you wait until August, you may not get an appointment before the first day. Call in late June or early July to schedule the well-child visit.
If your family moved to Massachusetts from another state, locate paper vaccination records from prior providers. Your Massachusetts pediatrician needs these to complete an accurate MIIS record and verify compliance with 105 CMR 220.000.
Even if your child's record is otherwise complete, check specifically for the Tdap booster (dated after age 10) and the first MenACWY dose before the 7th-grade enrollment appointment. Gaps here are common and will delay registration.
Deliver the signed immunization record (MIIS printout or provider record) to the school health office. Keep a copy for your own files — you'll need it again at 12th grade, for sports physicals, and for future school transitions.
Massachusetts families know how quickly the records question gets complicated — MIIS doesn't have out-of-state doses, the 7th-grade checkpoint requires two specific vaccines, and every school wants a freshly signed record each year. Family Stork keeps the complete timeline in one place so you're not starting from scratch every August.
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