Childhood vaccination Vaccine mandates for school attendance help establish a high level of vaccination coverage within school communities, leading to herd immunity and protecting vulnerable individuals from preventable diseases. (more) When Did Vaccines Become Mandatory for Schools? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/When-Did-Vaccines-Become-Mandatory-for-Schools Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Kara Rogers Kara Rogers is the senior editor of biomedical sciences at Encyclopædia Britannica, where she oversees a range of content from medicine and genetics to microorganisms. She joined Britannica in 2006 and... Kara Rogers Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 8, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot The first vaccination requirement to attend school in the United States was introduced in the 1850s in Massachusetts, specifically for smallpox vaccine. During the late 19th century, as public health systems developed, similar laws were introduced in other states, largely in response to recurring smallpox outbreaks. By the early 20th century, many states had enacted school-entry vaccination mandates, and in 1922 the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed their constitutionality in Zucht v. King, ruling that schools could exclude unvaccinated students. Over the course of the 20th century, the list of required vaccines expanded beyond smallpox to include those against diphtheria, polio, ...(100 of 323 words)

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