The State of Oklahoma requires all students entering the 7th grade to receive one Tdap booster for immunization against tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their child’s healthcare provider to arrange for this immunization. Please do not confuse the mandated Tdap booster with other required childhood vaccinations. If the student has already received the Tdap vaccination booster, he/she will not require an additional vaccination.
Students currently in 6th grade can now begin to receive the Tdap immunization. After receiving the Tdap, please provide Nurse Waits with the proper documentation of the immunization. Please contact Nurse Waits at dwaits@baschools.org for any questions.
Immunization Exemption
Parents/guardians who may have previously applied for and received an immunization exemption from the Oklahoma State Department of Health for their student due to medical conditions, religious concerns, or personal beliefs must submit a request to renew the exemption ahead of their student’s 7th grade year through the Oklahoma State Department of Health's online portal.
Due to a recent change in Oklahoma law, previous exemptions do not automatically carry over and must be renewed to remain valid. It is also important to note that exemption applications for 7th graders will not be accepted by the Oklahoma State Department of Health until the conclusion of the student’s 6th grade year. To ensure a smooth transition into 7th grade, parents/guardians are encouraged to plan accordingly and submit exemption requests to the Oklahoma Department of Health as soon as the student has completed the 6th grade. Once approved, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to provide a copy of the approved exemption to their child’s school.
For more information on immunization requirements and exemption requests, please visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health website.