New York · 2026–2027 School Year

New York school immunization records:
what schools ask for and how to have them ready.

New York schools are required by state law to verify immunization documentation before admission. This page covers exactly which records New York Public Health Law requires, how to retrieve them through NYSIIS and official channels, and what the 14-day grace period means for transferring students and new enrollees.

Last verified: September 7, 2026

Required Documents

1. Which immunization records New York schools require

Under New York Public Health Law §2164, no child may be admitted to a New York school without documentation of required immunizations or an approved exemption. Schools must maintain immunization records for every enrolled student and are subject to audit by the New York State Department of Health.

New York's required immunization schedule for school entry varies by grade level. Documentation must include each vaccine name, the number of doses given, and the specific date each dose was administered. Acceptable documentation includes:

A signed record from a licensed healthcare provider listing vaccines and dated doses
An official printout from NYSIIS (the New York State Immunization Information System)
Official school immunization records from a previous New York school
Out-of-state or international records, subject to school review against New York's requirements

Official New York immunization requirements for school entry:
The New York State Department of Health publishes the complete grade-by-grade immunization schedule at:
health.ny.gov — School Immunization Requirements →

(Source: health.ny.gov, accessed Aug 27, 2026)

Getting Records Ready

2. How to get your immunization records ready

Access NYSIIS for your child's record

NYSIIS — the New York State Immunization Information System — is the statewide registry where participating providers report vaccine doses. Parents and guardians can request their child's NYSIIS record through their healthcare provider or through their local health department. A NYSIIS printout is accepted by New York schools as official documentation of immunization history.

(Source: health.ny.gov — NYSIIS, accessed Aug 27, 2026)

Request a signed record from your provider

If NYSIIS does not have a complete record, contact the clinic or provider who administered the vaccines. Ask for a written record on clinic letterhead listing each vaccine, dose number, and the date given. This document can be submitted directly to the school while NYSIIS records are updated.

Transfer students moving to New York

Students transferring to New York from another state bring their prior immunization documentation. The school reviews those records against New York's requirements. Records from another state may satisfy New York's requirements — the school administrator makes this determination. If there are gaps, a New York-licensed provider can review and update the record.

International records

International immunization records are accepted for review by New York schools. A licensed healthcare provider in New York can review the foreign record, verify which vaccines were administered, and create a New York-compliant record to submit for enrollment.

Enrollment Timing

3. Deadlines and the 14-day grace period

New York Public Health Law §2164 provides a 14-day grace period for students transferring from another school who do not have immunization records immediately available at enrollment. This applies specifically to transfer situations — not first-time enrollment.

How the 14-day grace period works:

Transfer students may be conditionally admitted for up to 14 days while the school requests records from the previous school or the family obtains documentation.
The student may attend during the 14-day window.
If records are not provided within 14 days, the school is required to exclude the student until documentation is on file.
This grace period does not apply to first-time enrollees — schools require documentation at initial registration.

(Source: health.ny.gov — School Immunization Requirements, accessed Aug 27, 2026)

New York school registration for the fall typically opens in spring. First-time enrollees are required to present documentation at registration, not just on the first day. Gathering NYSIIS records before registration avoids delays at the enrollment window.

Staying Organized

4. Record-keeping tips for New York families

Verify NYSIIS has a complete record. Ask your provider at each visit whether the dose was reported to NYSIIS. Gaps between provider records and the registry are common. A complete NYSIIS record is the fastest way to generate documentation when a school asks.
Keep a personal copy of every immunization record. Schools retain submitted documentation. When your child transfers schools within New York, the receiving school will request records from the prior school — but that process takes time. Having your own copy eliminates the wait.
Track New York's grade-level requirements. New York's required immunization schedule includes dose milestones at specific grades (kindergarten, middle school, and high school). Review the NYSDOH schedule at each school transition, particularly when entering 6th or 7th grade.
Note the 2019 religious exemption change. New York eliminated non-medical exemptions in 2019. Only medical exemptions are now recognized under state law. If your family has documentation from prior years referencing a religious exemption, that documentation is no longer valid for school entry.
Local health departments can help. New York City and county health departments can access NYSIIS and assist with generating official records. If your child's provider has closed or records are unavailable, the local health department is the appropriate starting point.

How It Works

5. One email address. Every record. Always ready.

Every person gets one health story, and one private Family Stork email address every clinic already knows how to use. Give that address to your child's healthcare provider or local health department — dose records get sent to it, and the immunization history builds itself into one organized timeline.

When a New York school asks for immunization documentation at enrollment — or when your child is transferring and the 14-day clock is ticking — every dose date is already filed and accessible. No calling the old provider, no waiting for NYSIIS to generate a printout, no scrambling the week before school starts.

See how Family Stork works →

More New York Resources

One health story. One email address
every clinic already knows how to use.

Family Stork gives every family member a private @families.familystork.com address. Providers send immunization records to it automatically. New York enrollment documentation, NYSIIS records, and every dose date — organized in one place, ready when school asks. $99/year — about $10/month.

Start your family's record — free

Exemptions in New York

7. Immunization exemptions

New York recognizes medical exemptions only. Religious exemptions were eliminated by state law in 2019. Medical exemptions must be issued by a licensed New York physician. The governing statute is New York Public Health Law §2164.

The official exemption process, required documentation, and submission procedures are described by the New York State Department of Health:

New York State Department of Health — School Immunization Exemptions →