A few steps
Whole house
Immunizations
The home instruction law does not mention shots.Under the school shot law, a child needs a shot certificate to go to school.The state's education department says that law does not cover a child taught only at home.That is true while the child takes part in no school activities, like sports or clubs.
You do. Send no shot papers with your notice.Keep your child's shot record at home.
Source. legislature.maine.gov,
The law allows each choice below. Read what each one covers.
An exemption is a paper that says a shot rule does not apply to this person.
You do
The paper
The shot record from the doctor's office or the health department.
The state says
You do
The paper
a written statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician associate. A doctor signs it. It does not expire.
Source. legislature.maine.gov, mobile.maine.gov, maine.gov
Also in the law, with limits
The state says
You do
The paper
a statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician associate that the provider consulted with the parent or guardian about the risks and benefits. A doctor signs it. It does not expire.
You do
Source. maine.gov, legislature.maine.gov
Joining a team brings the shot rule; give the certificate of immunization or a medical statement, the only exemption open to new families.
Can my child play? See the full guideThe state says. Maine's college shot law covers a full time student.It also covers a student working toward a degree or diploma.There, only a medical statement can excuse a shot.The religious and philosophical ways were ended.It does not cover a student in an online program who never comes to campus.
You do. 1.Ask the college registrar if the shot law covers your student's class.2.Ask what shot record the college wants before the first class.
Where. The college door in the Academic Planner
Source. legislature.maine.gov
The state says. Maine's licensing rule for child care covers every child in care.The rule asks for a shot record for each child.Only a medical exemption is allowed.There was once a religious and philosophical way.The same 2019 law closed it, starting September 1, 2021.
You do. Give the licensed child care facility one of these:a current shot recorda written statement that a shot is medically unwise for the childThe statement comes from the child's doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
The state says. The immunization record for each person, or the written exemption, belongs in the same folder as the rest of the school records.
You do. Keep the record, or the exemption, with everything else the state asks you to keep.
Where. Keep the records
Checked against Maine's own law on October 20, 2026.
Everywhere in America
Where a shot record actually gets asked for, and where it does not.
Before any shot, what federal law already gives you
This is a summary of public law, not legal advice. Requirements change, so always check your state's own page before you rely on it.
Source. legislature.maine.gov, maine.gov
The state says
You do
The paper
a statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician associate that the provider consulted with the parent or guardian about the risks and benefits. A doctor signs it. It does not expire.
Source. legislature.maine.gov, maine.gov