As families get ready to return to school, BCSD would like to remind its parents of the following information regarding student immunizations and medications.
Immunizations
Each year the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) provides the South Carolina Immunization Requirements for Childcare and School. Immunization requirements are regularly updated; some changes have been made to the 2025-2026 school year for students in the following grades:
Seventh through 12th grades: one dose of Tdap vaccine on or after the 10th birthday.
11th grade: two doses of varicella. A child with a positive history of the disease is considered immune and is exempt from this requirement.
Fifth grade: two doses of hepatitis A vaccine with both doses received on or after the first birthday and separated by at least six months.
Department of Public Health Letter
Immunization Changes – English
Immunization Changes – Spanish
For 4K and under
Children in childcare must be up to date on the following shots based on their age:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
DTap (whooping cough, tetanus)
Polio
Pneumococcal (pneumonia)
Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib)
MMR (Measles, mumps, rubella)
Varicella (chickenpox)
Learn more about this year’s changes:
Childcare Immunization Changes - English
Childcare Immunization Changes - Spanish
Important reminder
If you think your child has an illness that can be spread to others, please keep him or her home from school or childcare. Contact your healthcare provider or clinic if you think medical attention is needed.
Learn more:
Medication
BCSD would also like to remind its families of the protocol for giving prescription and non-prescription medicines at school:
In order for a child to be given non-prescription medicines at school, the child’s parent/guardian must sign a permission form. Schools may have special rules for non-prescription medicines and may require parents or guardian to sign additional forms.
In order for a child to be given a prescription medicine at school, the child’s health care practitioner and the child’s parent or guardian should sign a separate permission form. Because the instructions for some medications require more space than is provided on the form, some health care practitioners may prefer to use a practice specific form.
In both cases, schools may have special rules for prescription medicines and may require parents or guardians to sign additional forms. A responsible adult should deliver the medicine and the permission form to the school. The medicine must be in the original container with the label on it.