State Immunization Laws for Healthcare
Workers and Patients

Immunization Administration Requirements
For State: AR

** Click on each result to read the abridged text of the state immunization law.

Patient Type	Vaccine	Requirement
Hospital Employees	Hepatitis B[1]	Offer[34]
	Influenza[2]	No
	MMR[3]	No
	Varicella[4]	No
	Pneumococcal[5]	No
	Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[6]	No
Hospital Inpatients	Influenza[7]	No
	Pneumococcal[8]	No
	Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[9]	No
Individual Providers' Patients	Any Immunization[10]	No
	Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[11]	No
Ambulatory Care Facilities Employees	Any Immunization[12]	Offer[35]
	Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[13]	No
Ambulatory Care Facilities Patients	Any Immunization[14]	No
	Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[15]	No
Correctional Inmates and Residents	Any Immunization[16]	Ensure[36]
	Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[17]	No
Developmentally Disabled Facility Residents	Any Immunization[18]	Ensure[37]
	Medical(M),Religious(R), or Philosophical(P) Exemptions[19]	Yes – (M)[38], (R)[39], & (P)[40]
	[]

[1] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer hepatitis B vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine?
[2] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer influenza vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with influenza vaccine?
[3] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine (or any component thereof) to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with MMR vaccine?
[4] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer varicella vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with varicella vaccine?
[5] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to any employees of the hospital, or ensure that any such employees are vaccinated with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine?	Top of Page
[6] If any hospitals are required to ensure that any hospital employees are vaccinated with hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella or pneumococcal vaccine, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?
[7] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer any inpatients of the hospital influenza vaccine, or ensure that any inpatients are vaccinated with influenza vaccine?
[8] Does the jurisdiction require that any hospitals offer any inpatients of the hospital pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or ensure that any inpatients are vaccinated with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine?
[9] If any hospitals are required to ensure that any hospital inpatients are vaccinated with influenza or pneumococcal vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?	Top of Page
[10] Does the jurisdiction require that any individual healthcare providers offer any vaccinations to any patients, or ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines?
[11] If any individual providers are required to ensure that any of their patients are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?
[12] Does the jurisdiction require that any ambulatory care facilities offer any vaccinations to any employees, or ensure that any employees are vaccinated with any vaccines?
[13] If any ambulatory care facilities are required to ensure that any employees are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?	Top of Page
[14] Does the jurisdiction require that any ambulatory care facilities offer any vaccinations to any patients, or ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines?
[15] If any ambulatory care facilities are required to ensure that any patients are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?
[16] Does the jurisdiction require that any correctional facilities or juvenile detention centers offer any vaccinations to any inmates or juveniles, or ensure that any inmates or juveniles are vaccinated with any vaccines?
[17] If any correctional centers or juvenile detention centers are required to ensure that any inmates or juveniles are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?	Top of Page
[18] Does the jurisdiction require that any residential facilities for the developmentally disabled or mentally retarded offer any residents any vaccinations, or ensure that any residents are vaccinated with any vaccines?
[19] If any residential facilities for the developmentally disabled or mentally retarded are required to ensure that any residents are vaccinated with any vaccines, does the jurisdiction provide for any medical, religious or philosophical exemptions to such administration requirements?
[34] For Arkansas requirements, see 007 05 CARR 002.18, relating to “hospitals and related facilities.” 007 05 CARR 002.18 provides that there shall be a plan for ensuring that all health care workers who are frequently exposed to blood and other potentially infectious bodily fluids are offered hepatitis B immunization. Note that this requirement applies to those facilities defined as a “hospital or related facility,” as set forth in Ark. Admin. Code § 20-9-201 including (among other facilities) a general, tuberculosis or chronic disease hospital, as well as a related facility, including (among other facilities) central facilities
[35]For Arkansas requirements, see 007 05 CARR 002.18, referring to “public health centers,” 007 05 CARR 010.12, referring to “freestanding birthing centers”, and 007 05 CARR 004.10, relating to “abortion facilities.” 007 05 CARR 002.18, 007 05 CARR 010.12 and 007 05 CARR 004.10 provide that there shall be a plan for ensuring that all health care workers who are frequently exposed to blood and other potentially infectious bodily fluids are offered hepatitis B immunization. While 007 05 CARR 002.18 is applicable to “hospitals and related facilities,” Ark. Code Ann. § 20-9-201 defines “hospital” as including public health centers. “Abortion facilities” are defined in 007 005 CARR 004 as any facility maintained for the primary purpose of providing care in the purposeful termination of human pregnancies with an intention other than to provide a live birth, and thus fall within the scope of this chart’s definition of “ambulatory care facility.”	Top of Page
[36] For Arkansas requirements, see 016 15 CARR 005.160, relating to “child welfare agencies.” 016 15 CARR 005.160 requires that age-appropriate immunizations of children shall be current or scheduled within 1 week. This chart interprets “child welfare agencies” as including juvenile detention centers, based on the location of regulations relating to “child welfare agencies” within the greater regulatory scheme, as read in conjunction with the regulatory definition of “child welfare agencies.” First, regulations relating to child welfare agencies are located within the chapter of the Arkansas Administrative Code governing ‘placement’ and ‘detention.’ Second, child welfare agencies are broadly defined in 016 15 CARR 005 as any facility receiving a total number of 6 or more unrelated minors for care on a 24-hour basis for the purpose of ensuring the minors receive care, training, education, custody, or supervision, whether or not there are 6 or more children cared for at any single physical location.
[37] For Arkansas requirements, see Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-206, 005 15 CARR 010, 007 15 CARR 001, 007 26 CARR 001, and 016 22 CARR 003, relating to “child care facilities.” Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-206 provides that no child care facility shall continue to accept children who have not been age-appropriately immunized against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, rubeola, rubella, and any other diseases designated by the Board of Health within 15 program days of the child’s original admission. Certain certification requirements apply. 005 15 CARR 010 provides that no child shall be admitted to a child care facility who has not been adequately immunized or is not in the process of becoming adequately immunized. 007 15 CARR 001 provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Arkansas rules, no child or infant shall be admitted to enter a child care facility in this state who has not been age-appropriately immunized against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, rubeola, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, and varicella, as evidenced by certain specified forms of documentation. If the child does not meet the immunization requirements for entrance, then the childcare facility must refer the child to a medical authority for immunization or consultation. 007 26 CARR 001 provides that no child will be admitted to a child care facility who has not been immunized or is not in the process of becoming immunized. 016 22 CARR 003 requires child care facilities to verify that a child has been immunized as required by the Arkansas Department of Health, or the child cannot remain in care. “Child care facilities” are defined in Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-202 as any facility which provides care, training, education, or supervision to any unrelated minor child. Therefore, this chart assumes that residential facilities housing developmentally disabled minors are a type of “child care facility”.
[38] For Arkansas, for medical exemptions to the immunization requirements of 005 15 CARR 010, 007 15 CARR 001, 007 26 CARR 001 and 016 22 CARR 003, relating to “child care facilities,” see 005 15 CARR 010, 007 15 CARR 001, 007 26 CARR 001, and 016 22 CARR 003. 005 15 CARR 010 provides that immunization requirements are inapplicable: (1) upon a certificate issued by the Director of the Arkansas Department of Health that a vaccine would be detrimental to the health of the child; (2) where a child has had a disease, as documented by their attending physician; or (3) any exemptions authorized by the Arkansas Department of Health School Immunization Schedule. 007 15 CARR 001 provides that immunization requirements are inapplicable: (1) any child who has had a vaccine-preventable disease, as documented by an appropriate diagnostic or blood serology test, should not be required to have a vaccine for that disease; or (2) a letter issued by the Medical Director, Communicable Disease/Immunization Work Unit, stating that the vaccine(s) for which the child is to be exempt is a valid exemption. 007 26 CARR 001 provides that immunization requirements are inapplicable where, in the discretion of the health authority having jurisdiction, exemptions may be made where the vaccine is medically contraindicated. 016 22 CARR 003 provides that the child care facility shall maintain an authorized record of documentation of medical exemptions for each child admitted in care.
[39] For Arkansas, for religious exemptions to the immunization requirements of Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-206, 005 15 CARR 010, 007 15 CARR 001, 007 26 CARR 001 and 016 22 CARR 003, relating to “child care facilities,” see Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-206, 005 15 CARR 010, 007 15 CARR 001, 007 26 CARR 001, and 016 22 CARR 003. Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-206 provides that immunization requirements are inapplicable if the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of that child objects thereto on the grounds that immunization conflicts with the religious beliefs of the parent or guardian. 007 15 CARR 010 provides that a statement is required from the pastor or church official that the parents or guardians are members of a recognized church or religious denomination. Note that the actual language of this specific exemption only makes reference to “schools”, and not “child care facilities”; however, because the exemption section is generally applicable to both “schools” and “child care facilities,” the religious exemption will most likely apply to “child care facilities.” 007 15 CARR 001 provides that a notarized statement by the parent is required. 007 26 CARR 001 provides that the provisions of these Acts shall not apply if the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child objects thereto on the grounds that the immunization conflicts with the religious tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious organization of which each parent or guardian is a member. 016 22 CARR 003 requires facilities to maintain documentation of a religious exemption for each child in care.	Top of Page
[40] For Arkansas, for philosophical exemptions to the immunization administration requirements of Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-206 and 007 15 CARR 001, relating to “child care facilities,” see Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-206 and 007 15 CARR 001. Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-206 provides that that immunization requirements are inapplicable if the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of that child objects thereto on the grounds that the immunization conflicts with the philosophical beliefs of the parent (s) or guardian(s). 007 15 CARR 001 provides that a notarized statement from the parent or guardian stating their objection is required.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this database is to provide researchers, policymakers, and state and local public health practitioners with descriptive information concerning state immunization-related law. No part of this legal analysis involves providing legal advice or answering specific questions of law on behalf of any person or organization.