AFS USA Last Updated 15 Sept, 2011

AFS USA Immunization Requirements for Inbound Participants

U.S. high schools have become increasingly stringent in their requirements for enrolling foreign
exchange students, therefore AFS-USA is asking that partners distribute the following
information to students applying to go to the U.S. upon receipt of student applications.

Please reiterate to students applying to be hosted in the U.S. that they must receive the following
immunizations prior to departure of their home country. If they do not arrive to the U.S. with
the following immunizations, many schools will refuse to enroll them and will not allow them
to participate in school sports. Additionally, if students arrive without the following
immunizations, it is their responsibility and that of their natural families to cover any costs related
to immunizations administered to them in the USA.

In order to determine compliance, vaccine dates must list by DAY/MONTH/YEAR.

1. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): 2 doses

2. DPT/DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis): 5 doses (4 if the 4
th
was given after the 4
th
bday)
*Note: all schools in the state of California require the T-daP booster vaccination for Pertussis. Please
follow this link for more information:http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Pertussis.aspx

3. Tetanus: updated within the past 10 years (in case the last DPT vaccination was administered more than
10 years ago)

4. OPV/IPV (Polio): 3 4 doses (description below)

a). If a student received all IPV or all OPV series, 3 doses are required with the last given on
or after the 4
th
birthday.

b). If a student received a combination of IPV and OPV vaccinations, 4 doses doses are
requireed with the last dose on or after the 4
th
birthday.

5. Hepatitis B: 3 doses

6. Hepatitis A: 2 doses

7. Varivax (Varicella, or the Chickenpox vaccine): 1 dose* (unless stu has had Chicken Pox, in
which case we need the month and year the stu had the disease)

* In some regions, 2 doses are required. In the case that a second vaccine is required for a student you
will be notified by an AFS USA Hosting Staff person.

8. TB test (if the test results are positive AND/OR if the student received the BCG vaccination, chest
xray results are required)

9. Meningococcal (Meningitis) vaccine*: Menactra, the newest version of the Meningococcal
vaccine, is now recommended for children who are 11 to 12 years old or before entering high school or
college.

*This is not required for all students, however may be required for some. In the case that this vaccine
is required for a student you will be notified by an AFS USA Hosting Staff person.