Maine Vaccine Laws for Schools, Childcare, Healthcare, and Pharmacies
This page outlines Maine's vaccine laws and requirements for public and private schools, childcare facilities, healthcare workers, and pharmacies. It also provides information on Maine's Immunization Information System (IIS) reporting rules. Below, you'll find links to state laws, standards, and contacts for assistance.
Public and Private Schools
Public Law, Ch. 154: An Act to Protect Maine Children and Students from Preventable Disease by Repealing Certain Exemptions from the Laws Governing Immunization Requirements took effect September 1, 2021.
Medical Exemptions: All medical exemptions must be issued by the patient's primary care provider. The Maine CDC Immunization Program cannot issue medical exemptions.
- Download the School Immunization Law (PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions: School Immunization Requirements (PDF)
- For questions on the immunization law for school children, email Emily.Poland@Maine.gov at the Maine Department of Education.
- For questions on getting your child caught up with required immunizations or immunizations in general, email: ImmunizeME.DHHS@Maine.gov.
Childcare Facility
For questions about childcare facility immunization requirements, contact:
Additional resource:
Post-Secondary Schools
The immunization requirements for post-secondary schools have been updated.
Health Care Workers
Information on immunization standards for health care workers is available here:
- Health Care Immunization Law (PDF) - This law has removed the allowance for philosophical and religious exemptions and has included influenza vaccine as a required immunization.
Fraud and Abuse Reporting
The Maine Immunization Program (MIP) takes the potential of fraud very seriously. Fraud and abuse incidents occur when a:
- Person is knowingly untruthful to gain benefit from the MIP for themselves or another
- Provider's actions result in unnecessary cost to the Medicaid program, the MIP, an insurance company, or a patient
- Provider is paid for services that are not medically necessary
- Provider is paid for services that fail to meet professionally recognized standards for health care
- Provider engages in any act that constitutes fraud under applicable federal or state law.
The MIP has developed the following process to address suspected cases of fraud and abuse within our Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. If you are aware of any of the above actions occurring in a health care setting that provides vaccines under the VFC program, contact the MIP to report the incident. No identifying information will not be shared. Contact us at:
- Phone: 1-800-867-4775
- Fax: 1-800-437-5743
- Email: ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov
If there is no one immediately available at the MIP to take your report, a staff person will contact you to follow up within 2 working days.
Thank you for your help in ensuring that the MIP continues to offer affordable vaccinations to prevent disease in Maine's children.