According to the New York State Department of Health, as of January 1, 2005:

Students born on or after January 1, 1994, and who enroll in the 6th grade at the beginning of the 2005-06 school year must be immunized against varicella (commonly known as chicken pox);

Those students born on or after January 1, 1994, and who transfer to a school in this state from another state or country after this law becomes effective on January 1, 2005, must be immunized at the time of entry into the school in the state of New York;

Special Education students in gradeless classes who were born on or after January 1, 1994, must be immunized against varicella at the start of the 2005-06 school year;

Students born on or after January 1, 1994, who are repeating the 6th grade at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year are required to immunized against varicella.

Exemptions from this requirement include:
-A history of varicella disease as documented by a health care provider. Parental recall of the disease history is not sufficient, and will not be accepted as proof of immunity;
-A medical exemption consisting of a written statement from a physician licensed to practice in the State of New York stating that there is a valid medical contraindication to varicella vaccine. A copy of the exemption must be retained by the school;
-A statement of religious exemption written by the parent, parents, or guardian of the child stating that they hold sincere and genuine belief(s) which prohibit the immunization of the child. A copy of the exemption must be retained by the school. Secular principles, including philosophical exemptions are not allowed;
-Serologic proof of immunity to varicella. The serologic test is reliable for determining the immune status in a healthy person after they had a natural infection, but may not be reliable in immunocompromised persons.

Students born on or after January 1, 2005, must also be immunized against tetanus and pertussis to attend school (the only exceptions being the aforementioned medical or religious exemptions).

For more information about immunizations, check the New York State Department of Health web site.

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