Beginning next year, Illinois schoolchildren will have stricter requirements for rubella and mumps vaccinations, the Illinois Department of Public Health has announced.

Children entering school at any grade level must show proof that they have received two doses each – instead of just one – of rubella and mumps vaccines.  In addition, any child entering kindergarten, 6th grade or 9th grade for the first time must show proof of having received two doses of varicella (chicken pox) vaccine.

The previous hepatitis B vaccination requirement for students entering 5th grade is now a requirement for new 6th grade students.

For the 2015-2016 school year, students will need a meningococcal vaccination, which is currently not required.

Existing requirements for school entrance are diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, haemophilus influenza type b, hepatitis b, varicella and pneumococcal (depending on age) vaccinations.

More information about immunizations, including vaccination schedules, visit www.idph.state.il.us/about/shots.htm.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, 99.5 percent of students in the Collinsville Unit 10 School District were compliant with their vaccinations in the 2012-2013 school year, the most recent year for which data is available.