A rising seventh grader in Katy ISD or Lamar Consolidated ISD who hasn't gotten a meningococcal vaccine yet won't be able to start school without one. With Lamar CISD's first day set for Tuesday, Aug. 11, and Katy ISD opening Wednesday, Aug. 12, according to district calendars compiled by Click2Houston, families have days to check shot records and fill any gaps.
Texas requires all K-12 students to show proof of vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; polio; measles, mumps and rubella; hepatitis B; varicella; and hepatitis A, according to Texas Department of State Health Services guidance. The requirements for 2026-27 are unchanged from last year.
The seventh-grade year adds a new layer. Students entering that grade must also have a meningococcal vaccine and an age-appropriate Tdap booster on file. That makes the middle school transition a checkpoint families can easily overlook if they assume elementary records still cover everything. It's easy to miss.
The exact number of doses depends on a student's grade, age and vaccination history. The requirements apply to both public and private schools, and the state sets them through the Texas Legislature and DSHS, not individual districts.
Low-cost shots through Harris County Public Health
Families who need affordable options can call Harris County Public Health at 832-927-7350 to schedule an appointment through the Texas Vaccines for Children program. TVFC provides low-cost vaccines to eligible children from birth through age 18, including those who are uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, or American Indian or Alaska Native.
HCPH's TVFC program covers every vaccine Texas requires for school entry.
"Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest steps you can take to protect your health and the people you care about," Roselynn Ruth, director of nursing for HCPH's Community Health and Wellness Division, said in the department's Aug. 3 immunization awareness message, as reported by My Neighborhood News.
What if records aren't ready by the first day?
State rules include provisions for provisional enrollment and exemptions, though the specifics vary by situation. Families unsure of their child's status should contact their campus registrar before the first day rather than wait to sort it out at drop-off.
The numbers
Katy ISD serves more than 95,000 students. Lamar CISD, the region's fastest-growing large district, enrolled about 48,700 students heading into 2026-27 after growing 4.28% between 2024 and 2025. Together, the two districts are sending roughly 140,000-plus students back to class this week.
The full 2026-27 vaccination requirements by grade level are posted at dshs.texas.gov/immunizations/school/requirements. HCPH immunization appointments: 832-927-7350.
