This paper examines the impact of post-neonatal childhood health on
adult educational attainment using evidence from mandatory school
vaccination laws in the U.S. After the development of a number of key
vaccines, states began to require proof of immunization against certain
infectious diseases for children entering school. I exploit the staggered
implementation of the laws across states to identify both the short-run
impacts on child health and long-term effects on educational attainment.
First, I show that the mandatory school vaccination laws were effective
in reducing the incidence rates of the targeted diseases. Next, I find
sizable and positive effects on educational outcomes as measured by
high school completion and years of schooling. The effect on educational
attainment is twice as large for non-whites relative to whites.