State immunization-rule changes shift audits and grade-level requirements, health officer says

The health officer told the board that New Jersey has amended childhood immunization regulations (New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 8, Chapter 57, Sections 3 and 4) and that the state issued implementation guidance for local health departments. She said the revisions modernize school and childcare requirements and directly affect how compliance is evaluated at the local level.

Among the changes the health officer highlighted, "the Tdap and meningococcal requirements are moving to 7th grade entry," and the influenza vaccination deadline for certain care settings is shifting to Nov. 30. She said local health departments will use the New Jersey immunization registry to track and enforce compliance and will continue to perform in-person immunization audit visits as required.