Immunization Information for Healthcare Professionals

Children are required to have certain immunizations before they enter childcare, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 7, 8, 9, and 12. They can be exempted from immunizations for either religious or medical reasons. 

• A medical exemption certificate must be signed by a healthcare professional.
• A religious exemption certificate can be signed by a parent or guardian, or by the student if they are at least age 18.

• Healthcare professionals can enroll in the program to order vaccines for both pediatric and adult patients. Enrollment must be completed online annually.
• Providers who participate in the SSV program must agree to the SSV program terms and conditions and adhere to certain requirements for ordering, storing, and reporting on vaccines.
• Before administering any vaccine, healthcare professionals must give the current Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) to patients or to their parents or guardians. This must be documented in the patient's medical record.
• Who is eligible for state-supplied vaccine?
  • All  people age 18 or younger.
  • People age 19 or older who are either a Rhode Island resident or who get health benefits through a Rhode Island employer (some ordering restrictions apply).
  • Vaccines are not allowed to be administered to ineligible patients. Failure to report vaccine administered to ineligible patients is considered fraud and abuse. 

*Effective March 1, 2026: Important updates related to restitution under the Vaccine Replacement Policy are found below under "Storage and Handling" > "Policies". 

Enrolling is easy. Review the SSV Program Enrollment Instructions. If you are already enrolled, log in now.

• Rhode Island SSV Program Enrollment Form
• Terms and Conditions—Federal Vaccines for Children (VFC)
• Terms and Conditions—SSV Program, RICAIR, and KIDSNET
• SSV Vaccine Training Workshop Presentation

The online vaccine ordering system is called OSMOSSIS. Learn about OSMOSIS.

• You Call the Shots: Storage and Handling Module
• Shot of Knowledge: 2025-26 Respiratory Season Update (October 28, 2025)
• Check back soon! Shot of Knowledge: Motivational Interviewing to Improve Vaccine Confidence (January 21, 2026)

*Effective March 1, 2026: Important updates related to the Vaccine Replacement Policy may be accessed below under Policies. All SSV providers have been advised of the changes in advance and will be notified again prior to when the policy takes effect.

Vaccine storage requires strict adherence* to established standards. A yearly training is required for all providers enrolled in the SSV program. 

Any temperature excursions must be reported to the Rhode Island Department of Health using the Temperature Excursion Response Worksheet.

Refrigeration

• Stand Alone Refrigerators and Freezers
• Storage and Handling Guide
• Vaccine Management Plan
• Vaccine Storage Emergency Preparedness Plan

Data Loggers

• Data Logger Auditing
• Data Logger Overview

Packing Vaccines

• Pack Out and Transport Guide

Policies

• Fraud and Abuse
• *Vaccine Replacement (*Effective March 1, 2026, this policy is subject to important updates related to restitution. All SSV providers will be advised in advance and upon taking effect.)
• Vaccine Restitution Policy (March 1, 2026)

Flu Vaccine: Changing an Order or Returning Vaccines

• Influenza Reserve Modification Request Form
• Returning Influenza Vaccine

• Rhode Island Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule (AAFP)
• Rhode Island Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule (AAP)
• Rhode Island Pediatric and Adult State-Supplied Vaccines

• Adult Vaccine Administration Record
• How to Administer SC/IM
• Screening Questionnaire for Children and Teens
• Vaccine Information Statements
• Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
• Vaccines for Children (VFC) Eligibility Values

• ACIP Recommendations
• ACIP Best Practice Guidelines
• Vaccine Contraindications and Precautions
• ACIP-VFC Vaccine Resolutions

• Ask the Experts, Immunize.org
• Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Pink Book), CDC
• School Physical Form, RIDOH
• Reportable Diseases, RIDOH
• Quality Improvement Support, RIDOH