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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2025
SILVER SPRING, MD — The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) today released its updated position statement, Immunization and Vaccination Requirements, underscoring the essential role of timely, up-to-date, and complete vaccinations in protecting school-age youth, staff, and communities from preventable, serious infectious diseases.
NASN calls for school immunization requirements to be aligned with the best available scientific evidence and recommends eliminating vaccine exemptions, except in cases of validated medical contraindications.
“Immunizations save lives, reduce illness, and keep students healthy, safe, and ready to learn,” said Lynn Nelson, MSN, RN, NCSN, NASN President. “School nurses are trusted leaders in addressing vaccine hesitancy, correcting misinformation, and supporting families to ensure every child has access to the protection vaccines provide.”
The updated statement highlights:
- The critical importance of evidence-based school immunization requirements.
- The role of school nurses in improving vaccination coverage and addressing hesitancy.
- The need for equitable access to vaccines for all school-age children.
- The elimination of non-medical vaccine exemptions to protect public health.
School nurses remain at the forefront of vaccination efforts—reinforcing requirements, tracking immunization records, supporting families with catch-up schedules, and leading school-based vaccination clinics.
The full position statement, including background, rationale, and references, is available here.
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About NASN
The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is a nonprofit specialty nursing organization, organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has more than 18,000 members. The mission of NASN is to optimize student health and learning by advancing the practice of school nursing. To learn more about NASN, please visit us on the Web at www.nasn.org or call 866-627-6767.
Media Contacts:
Kate McDuffie
National Association of School Nurses
[email protected]
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