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    OpenPayerPolicy UpdatesPreventive Services & ScreeningMontana DPHHS School Immunization Coverage | OpenP…
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    CurrentMontana Department of Public Health & Human ServicesPolicy N/A

    School and Preschool Required Immunizations (Coverage Criteria)

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    Defines required vaccine doses and timing for preschool and kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment in Montana public settings; affects pupils and preschools subject to MCA and ARM vaccination rules.

    Policy Summary
    PayerMontana Department of Public Health & Human Services
    PolicySchool and Preschool Required Immunizations (Coverage Criteria)
    Policy CodePolicy N/A
    Change TypeNo material change
    Effective DateOct 1, 2015
    Next Review DateN/A
    Key ActionProvide documentation of vaccination or a valid exemption/conditional enrollment for school or preschool enrollment.
    SourceLink
    POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

    No material clinical or coverage changes in this revision.

    4 dosesDTaP/Tdap
    1–2 dosesMMR
    1–2 dosesVaricella
    1 dose (preschool)Hib

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    3 doses
    Polio

    Required Immunizations for Enrollment

    Required immunization criteria

    Covered (required for enrollment) when ALL of the following dose and timing rules are met:

    Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Preschool: 1 dose given on or after the 1st birthday (Hib vaccine is not recommended for children older than 59 months). Kindergarten–12th grade: none needed.

    Hib not recommended for children older than 59 months.

    Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP/Tdap): Preschool: 4 doses. Kindergarten–12th grade: 4 doses with at least one dose given on or after the 4th birthday; plus 1 dose of Tdap prior to entering 7th grade.

    A pupil 7 years or older who has not completed the DTaP requirement must receive additional doses of Tdap or Td per ACIP/ARM; following ACIP schedule may result in 5 DTaP doses.

    Polio (IPV or OPV): Preschool: 3 doses. Kindergarten–12th grade: 3 doses with one dose given on or after the 4th birthday.

    When following the ACIP schedule some children may receive 4 doses of polio vaccine.

    Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Preschool: 1 dose given on or after the 1st birthday. Kindergarten–12th grade: 2 doses with the first dose given on or after the 1st birthday and spacing between doses at least 4 weeks.
    Varicella (chickenpox): Preschool: 1 dose given on or after the 1st birthday. Kindergarten–12th grade: 2 doses with the first dose given on or after the 1st birthday; spacing between doses 12 weeks for children under 13 years and 4 weeks for those 13 years and older.

    If a child younger than 13 years receives the second dose at a 4-week interval or longer, the dose need not be repeated. A four-day grace period may apply per ACIP.

    Documentation of a valid exemption or conditional enrollment may be submitted in lieu of receiving all required vaccines. Providers should accept such documentation as meeting enrollment requirements when properly completed and applicable under Montana law.

    Provider Responsibilities and Impact

    Prior Authorization

    Prior authorization not required

    Not applicable — this policy lists required vaccines and doses for preschool and K–12 school entry rather than any prior authorization requirements.

    Step Therapy

    Step-therapy not specified

    No additional step-therapy requirements or sequencing are specified in this policy.

    Documentation Required

    Acceptable documentation in lieu of vaccination

    Providers may submit documentation of vaccination, or documentation of a valid exemption or conditional enrollment, instead of administering all required vaccines for enrollment.

    Policy Background

    This policy lists the immunization dose requirements and age/timing rules that apply to preschool and kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment in Montana, referencing ACIP recommendations and state statutes/administrative rules. Per MCA 20-5-402, a preschool is a facility providing regular educational instruction primarily for children 5 years of age or younger, serving no child under 5 for more than 3 hours/day and no child age 5 for more than 6 hours/day. The document clarifies dose counts and minimum ages: for example, Hib is not recommended for children older than 59 months; following the ACIP schedule may result in at least 5 doses of DTaP and 4 doses of polio for some children; pupils 7 years or older who have not completed DTaP must receive additional Tdap or Td per ACIP/ARM; and varicella and Tdap requirements apply to pupils as specified effective October 1, 2015. A four-day grace period may apply as appropriate per ACIP.

    Key Definitions

    inv-08: Preschool — definition and age/attendance specifics for preschool used in the policy
    Definition (per MCA 20-5-402)A preschool is a facility that provides, on a regular basis and as its primary purpose, educational instruction designed for children 5 years of age or younger.
    Daily attendance limitsMay not serve any child under 5 years of age for more than 3 hours per day, and may not serve any child 5 years of age for more than 6 hours per day.
    Age-based scopeApplies to children 5 years of age or younger (definition sets eligibility for preschool rules in the policy).
    Relevance to immunization requirementsPreschool-specific vaccine rules (e.g., Hib: 1 dose given on or after 1st birthday; MMR and varicella: 1 dose on/after 1st birthday; DTaP and polio: preschool dose counts) apply to pupils enrolled in facilities meeting this definition.
    Statutory citationDefined by MCA 20-5-402 as stated in the policy document.
    Policy Summary
    PayerMontana Department of Public Health & Human Services
    PolicySchool and Preschool Required Immunizations (Coverage Criteria)
    Policy CodePolicy N/A
    Change TypeNo material change
    Effective DateOct 1, 2015
    Next Review DateN/A
    Key ActionProvide documentation of vaccination or a valid exemption/conditional enrollment for school or preschool enrollment.
    SourceLink
    On This Page
    Required Immunizations for EnrollmentProvider Responsibilities and ImpactPolicy BackgroundKey Definitions
    Denial Risk

    Enrollment denial risk if documentation not provided

    Failure to provide documentation of required vaccine doses or a valid exemption/conditional enrollment may prevent a pupil from meeting enrollment requirements for preschool or K–12.