The California Department of Social Services has issued instructions immunization as a requirement for enrolling in child care. SB 277 ended the personal belief exemption to mandatory immunization effective January 1, 2016. This requirement applies to child case as explained in California Department of Education Management Bulletin 16-05. Children who previously had a personal belief exemption from immunization will need to be immunized prior to entering kindergarten or seventh grade. The immunization exemption for medical reasons remains.
The immunization requirement does not apply to licensed exempt child care. If children switch from license exempt child care to licensed child care, the immunization requirement will apply.
SB 277 does not change the CalWORKs immunization requirements. The CalWORKs requirement only applies to aided children under age six. The personal belief and other good cause exceptions to immunizations remain for CalWORKs. (ACL 17-86, August 11, 2017.)