Minnesota changes vaccine requirements for schools and child care facilities

Children in child care facilities and early childhood programs must be vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B beginning next year, the Minnesota Department of Health Announced today.

The vaccination requirements, already in place for students in kindergarten through grade 12, will be extended to child care and early childhood programs starting Sept. 1, 2014.

"This rule change will only help in our efforts to ensure safe environments for children in child care," state Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson said in a news release.

Schools will also see amended rules. The seventh-grade tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine will be replaced by one that includes pertussis (Tdap). Students in grades seven and above will be required to get a meningococcal vaccine.

"Healthy kids equals healthy minds," Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said in a news release. "Vaccinations play a key role in helping our children stay well, resulting in better attention and participation in class as well as fewer days out of school due to illness."

Parents will still be allowed to claim a medical exemption or decline vaccines for their children. More details on the changes can be found at the MDH immunizations website.