"Immunization continues to be one of the most important and cost-effective means of protecting our children from serious and sometime life-threatening illness," said Dr. Stuart Brown, director of the Division of Public Health. "In the close quarters of a school, where infections can spread rapidly, it is especially important that children are fully immunized for their own protection."

In Georgia, children entering school for the first time - either as a kindergartener or because they have transferred from out of state - are required to have a completed Georgia Certificate of Immunization. The certificate, which can be certified by either a Health Department or doctor, certifies that a child has received all required immunizations. Children who are new to the state will need to have the immunization records from their previous state of residence transferred to the Georgia Certificate of Immunization, which can be done at any local Health Department, or by the child's physician. Georgia law allows school districts to exclude children from school if they are not fully immunized.

Required childhood immunizations are available at all local health departments in Georgia. Local health departments are also excellent resources for information about immunizations generally, including school-entry immunizations, the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS), and the recommended childhood immunization schedule.

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