Puerto Rico Immunization Requirements
(Updated January 1994)
Authority: Health and Sanitation, P.R. Laws Ann. tit. 24 7B. 182 to 1821.
General Rule: No student of preschool child may be admitted or enrolled in a school, day-care center, or social treatment center, if he is not duly immunized. PRL 24 7B. 182a.
The immunization record of each student or preschool child provisionally admitted to the school, daycare center, shall be reviewed by the registrar, every sixty (60) days until the student or preschool child has received the dosage for his immunization. PRL 24 7B.182c.
Penalty: Any father, mother or guardian of a preschool child or a student under eighteen (18) years of age, and the students under eighteen (18) years of age, and the students over eighteen (18) years of age who do not comply with the provisions of this chapter, or give false information to the registrar, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sanctioned with a term of imprisonment that shall not exceed six (6) months or a fine that shall not exceed five hundred (500) dollars, or both penalties, at the discretion of the court.' PRL 24 7B.182f.
Exceptions: There are two exceptions: PRL 24 7B. 182d.
1) Not required for the student or preschool child who presents a sworn statement that he or his parents belong to a religious organization whose dogmas are in conflict with the immunization. Exemptions for religious reasons shall be void in case of any epidemic declared by the Secretary of Health.'
2) Not required for the student or preschool child who presents a certificate signed by a doctor, to the effect that one or more of the immunizations required, could be detrimental to the health of the student.
Epidemic: AIl students or preschool children who are exempted from the provisions of this chapter may be immunized during an epidemic, as determined by an authorized representative of the Department of Health.- PRL 24 7B.182d.
Definitions: PRL 24 7B.182.
School - Any public or private institution, duly authorized by the Department of Education, that offers Kindergarten and primary, secondary and post secondary level courses, which does not offer an associate degree of an academic, vocational, technical and highly skilled nature within the territorial limits of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Student - Means any person that enrolls and is admitted to any of the schools included in the definition of school, and who is under 21 years of age.
Certificate of Immunization - Shall mean the form provided by the Department of Health, signed by the doctor or by the professional who administers the vaccine and which certifies that a particular person has been immunized against a particular disease.
Designated Diseases: Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, German measles, common measles, mumps and any other that the Secretary of Health might see fit to require. PRL 24 7B. 182i.
Responsibility of Parents: The student, preschool child or his parents or guardians shall have the responsibility of submitting a certificate of immunization to the school, day-care center, or social treatment center in order to be accepted. PRL 24 7B. 182a.