August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines at all stages of your life. In the State of Oregon (the State), schools and childcare facilities are required to uphold certain vaccination guidelines in order to remain in compliance with state law.
Part of these guidelines include reporting vaccination rates among children's facilities and ensuring that children are in compliance with vaccination requirements. Often, schools and other child care centers do this by using information that was obtained at the time of the student's registration.
Students who do not meet their schools vaccination requirements by January of 2026 will receive an Exclusion Letter. An Exclusion Letter informs the necessary parties that a child has not met the State's guidelines for immunizations in a school or childcare facility.
The letter notifies guardians that children who fail to meet immunization requirements do have the potential to be excluded from daily school life and activities, unless their medical record shows compliance with State law. February 25, 2026 is Exclusion Day, the day on which students can and will be turned away from their school or childcare facility.
Guardians of students who do meet their facility's requirements will not receive a letter and do not need to take action.
Guardians of students who do not meet their facility's requirements should contact their child's main medical care provider.
Here are some ways to avoid a child's exclusion from school activities:
Don't wait! If you have them, turn in updated immunization records now
Check your student's vaccination status at their childcare/school registration event
Schedule vaccination appointments early, to avoid clinic wait times
Immunization Providers:
Pediatricians
Family Doctors
Pharmacies (for ages 7 and Older)
School-Based Health Centers
Non-Profit Clinics
Required Shots For School and Children's Facilities: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/preventionwellness/vaccinesimmunization/gettingimmunized/pages/schrequiredimm.aspx