Families with children entering kindergarten or sixth grade at Boone County Schools must get their kids current on state-required vaccinations before the first day of school on Aug. 19.
Kentucky law requires it. Under 902 KAR 2:060, students must show proof of immunization at two checkpoints: kindergarten entry and sixth-grade entry. The state has not changed those requirements despite recent federal revisions to the childhood immunization schedule, according to Kentucky Health News reporter Melissa Patrick.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health has said federal vaccine recommendations are only advisory and do not follow the established steps required to set state vaccine policy.
What's required
Kindergartners (age 5) must have:
- DTaP: 4 or 5 doses
- Polio/IPV: 3 or 4 doses
- MMR: 2 doses
- Hepatitis A: 2 doses
- Hepatitis B: 3 doses
- Varicella (chickenpox): 2 doses
Sixth graders (ages 11–12) need all of the above, plus:
- Tdap booster: 1 dose
- Meningococcal (MenACWY): 1 dose
- Second varicella dose (if not already received)
The full requirements are listed in the state immunization chart, last revised in March 2025.
Where to go
The Northern Kentucky Health Department's Boone County Health Center at 7505 Burlington Pike in Florence offers immunizations on a walk-in or same-day appointment basis. Call 859-363-2060.
Hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The clinic accepts Kentucky Medicaid. Uninsured families may qualify for a sliding-fee scale based on income.
Kentucky law does allow religious and medical exemptions under KRS 214.036. Families seeking an exemption should contact their child's school or the district health services office at 859-283-1003.
The requirement applies across all Boone County elementary and middle schools in Florence, Union, Burlington and Hebron. The Wednesday deadline is the same for every building in the district.
