Mandatory Vaccines and Waivers

Mandatory Vaccinations

State and local vaccination requirements for child care and school entry are important tools for maintaining high vaccination coverage rates, and in turn, lower rates of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Wyo. Stat. § 21-4-309 and the Wyoming Immunization Rules establish the immunization requirements for children attending Wyoming private or public child caring facilities, preschools, or schools (K-12), full or part time. All person attending a Wyoming public or private school, child care facility, or preschool, shall within thirty (30) calendar days of entry,  provide documentary proof of immunization.

There are no statutes that govern immunization requirements for Wyoming colleges; therefore, the information and processes described below do not apply. 

Waiver Information

NOTE: WDH is unable to grant waivers for immunizations not on the mandatory immunizations list above, or for anyone not enrolled in K-12 schools or child care. WDH is unable to provide waivers for employment, non-school sanctioned camps or activities, and for any situations other than for children enrolled in K-12 schools and child caring programs.

Wyoming Statute 21-4-309(a) grants authority to the State Health Officer and County Health Officer to authorize waivers “upon submission of written evidence of religious objection or medical contraindication to the administration of any vaccine.”

The law does not allow parents/guardians to request a waiver simply because of inconvenience (for example, a record is lost or incomplete and it is too much trouble to go to a physician or clinic to correct the problem). Wyoming statute does NOT allow for the authorization of waiver requests based on philosophical beliefs. Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 21-4-309 and 14-4-116 allow for waivers to the mandatory immunizations required to attend child-caring facilities and schools (K-12) based on religious belief or medical contraindication.

Any student who is not appropriately vaccinated or who has a waiver shall be excluded during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak as determined by the State Health Officer or a County Health Officer.

In line with state statutes Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-1-240, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-4-101, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-4-101, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 21-4-309, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-4-116 and administrative rules Chapters 3 and 4, waivers shall be granted to children in child caring facilities or K-12 schools for religious objections or medical contraindications for the immunizations that are currently on the Wyoming mandatory immunization schedule.