Ohio immunization requirements for childcare

Ohio requires protection against 14 diseases for children in licensed child care centers and family child care homes (Ohio Revised Code 5104.014). The center records rule repeats the list in its appendix A, in effect since July 1, 2026.

The law covers infants, toddlers and preschoolers, plus school-age children in child care who aren't enrolled in school. Vaccine names in the table follow the CDC's schedule for young children.

Ohio's law lists diseases, not dose counts. Your child meets it by being fully immunized or in the process of being immunized. The law defines that as having had at least the first dose of a series and keeping to the intervals or catch-up schedule set by Ohio's director of health (ORC 5104.014).

The ages for each dose come from a recommended schedule, which your pediatrician follows. The CDC publishes one, and as of November 2026 its schedule for young children shows the 2025 version. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has published its own since 2025, including a 2026 schedule released in January (AAP schedule for parents).

The CDC and AAP schedules don't always match, and federal vaccine recommendations have been changing. Ask your pediatrician which schedule they follow and whether your child is on track.

The center must have your child's immunization record on file within 30 days of the first day of attendance (Ohio Administrative Code 5180:2-12-15). After that, it must be updated every 13 months while your child is enrolled (ORC 5104.014). The record has to be dated and show your child's name, birth date, and the month, day and year of each shot.

Ohio's rule doesn't say what happens if 30 days pass without a record, so ask about your center's policy when you enroll. The enrollment form itself is due earlier, on your child's first day.

Ohio allows medical exemptions and exemptions for reasons of conscience, and each one applies disease by disease (ORC 5104.014, OAC 5180:2-12-15):

• Medical: a statement from a licensed physician, physician assistant (PA) or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). It says your child is in the process of being immunized, that a vaccine is medically contraindicated, or that it isn't medically appropriate for your child's age.
• Reasons of conscience: your own statement that you've declined a vaccine for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions.

The flu vaccine also isn't required when the seasonal vaccine isn't available. By law, the medical statement must include a place where a parent can note that they've declined a vaccine.

An exemption can also matter on sick days. The AAP notes that a child who hasn't finished the recommended vaccines may be kept home with a fever until a vaccine-preventable illness is ruled out (AAP).

Start with your child's pediatrician or the clinic that gave the shots. The CDC also points families to their state's immunization information system and to the state health department's immunization program (CDC).

Ohio's system is the Ohio Impact Statewide Immunization Information System (ImpactSIIS). Children are included unless a parent opts them out, but providers aren't required to report to it, so a record may be missing shots (CDC: IIS Policies, Ohio).

Local health departments can print ImpactSIIS records. Summit County Public Health, for example, asks for a release of information form and a photo ID, then emails the record in about 2 to 3 business days. The CDC lists Ohio's contact for immunization records as 1-800-282-0546.

If your child had shots in another state, contact that state's system too.

The federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines at no cost to children 18 and younger who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian or Alaska Native (CDC).

• Underinsured means your plan doesn't fully cover recommended vaccines. These children can get VFC vaccines only at federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics.
• You don't have to show proof of eligibility. The doctor's office asks about your coverage and records your answers.
• Providers may charge a fee for giving the vaccine, up to a state maximum, but they can't refuse to vaccinate your child if you can't pay it.
• To find a VFC provider, contact your state or local health department.

If you're enrolling at All Around Children, you can call our enrollment line at (440) 999-1797 with questions about the forms you'll need.