Mississippi requires an immunization certificate before any child can enroll or attend school under Miss. Code Ann. §41-23-37. Whether your child is entering kindergarten in Jackson, starting 7th grade in Gulfport, or transferring into a Hattiesburg district school, here is every required form, where to get it, and the grade-level deadlines — all cited to Mississippi law.
Last verified: September 1, 2026
Mississippi's primary school health document is the Mississippi Certificate of Immunization (also called Form 121), signed by a licensed Mississippi healthcare provider or local health department. Under Miss. Code §41-23-37, no child may attend school without this certificate on file or an approved exemption.
Note: Mississippi does not require Hepatitis A vaccination for public school entry at the state level, unlike Arkansas or Louisiana. Families moving from those states do not need to add Hep A doses to meet Mississippi's school requirement.
The Certificate is available from your child's pediatrician, from Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) county health departments, and from some school health offices.
Source: Mississippi State Department of Health — School Immunization Requirements, accessed Sep 1, 2026; Miss. Code Ann. §41-23-37
MIIX (Mississippi Immunization Information Exchange) is the state's central immunization registry, administered by the Mississippi State Department of Health. If your child has received vaccines at a Mississippi provider, those doses are likely in MIIX. Your pediatrician can access MIIX and print a complete immunization record directly from the registry.
MIIX also allows parents to request their child's immunization records through the MSDH immunization records portal. This is useful when you need the record quickly for school enrollment and your pediatrician's office has limited availability.
For out-of-state records, your new Mississippi pediatrician can add doses from your prior state's records to MIIX at the first appointment. Bring all prior vaccine documentation.
Source: MSDH — Mississippi Immunization Information Exchange (MIIX), accessed Sep 1, 2026
Full immunization certificate required before first day. All K–12 required vaccines must be complete or in progress with a documented catch-up plan. Conditional enrollment is allowed under §41-23-37 while documentation is gathered — check with your district for the deadline, typically 30 days.
Tdap booster (if not given after age 7) and MenACWY (first dose) required. The updated Certificate of Immunization showing these doses must be on file when your child enters 7th grade. This is the most common gap families miss — the pediatrician needs to know 7th grade is coming before summer so the appointment can be scheduled in time.
Students transferring from other states must submit a Mississippi Certificate of Immunization — not the sending state's form. If you have records from another state, a Mississippi provider or county health department must review them and issue the Mississippi certificate. Bring all prior records.
Mississippi does not have a single statewide mandate requiring a physical exam for all students at school entry. However, many Mississippi school districts require a physical exam form at kindergarten entry or 7th grade entry as a local policy. Check with your specific district's school nurse or enrollment office to determine whether a physical exam form is required.
For districts that do require a physical, the exam must typically be completed within a defined window before enrollment — usually 12 to 24 months. Your pediatrician can complete the form at the annual well-child visit.
Contact your district's enrollment office directly for the current 2026–2027 required documents list. Requirements may vary by district for physical exams and screening forms.
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Mississippi recognizes medical and religious exemptions from school immunization requirements under Miss. Code §41-23-37(4). The exemption types, governing statute, and official process are published by the Mississippi State Department of Health. Exemption eligibility is not determined by this guide — consult MSDH or your district enrollment office.
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