Thinking back-to-school: will their vaccines be ready, too?

Did you know many schools won’t allow your child to complete registration without a current vaccine record? Vaccinations protect both your child and the community, offering immunity before children are exposed to potentially serious — even life-threatening — diseases.

Though keeping current on recommended immunizations is important every year, a reminder to stay up to date is even more urgent as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Ask your provider about the immunizations your child may need, including:

• COVID-19 vaccine and boosters.
• Annual influenza vaccine.
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
• Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine.
• Varicella vaccine to protect against Chickenpox, if they haven’t had it.
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine to protect against meningitis.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to help prevent cancers caused by HPV.
• Tdap vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough, with a booster every ten years.

Remember, most viruses are transmitted person-to-person. When you protect yourself and your loved ones, you protect others, including those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons.

Source: CDC.gov