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Monday, August 26, 2024, 03:09 PM
2 minutes

The importance of back-to-school vaccinations

When kids go back to school, they bring home a lot more than just homework — they bring home germs. Here’s how you can protect your family from those illnesses, and the importance of getting your children vaccinated.    
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A young boy, about 7, flexes his arm and smiles at the camera. He has a band-aid on his bicep.
It never fails. When kids go back to school, they usually bring home a lot more than just homework. They bring germs, putting them and other family members at risk of getting sick.

Staying up to date on your child’s vaccines and immunizations, as well as practicing healthy hygiene, is one of the best ways to protect them from potentially harmful germs. 

“Vaccinating your children protects not only your family, but it also protects others who cannot be vaccinated,” said Susan Senzaki, doctor of nursing practice (DNP) with Dizon Pediatrics Copper, a member of Community Health Partners. “So, by staying up to date on vaccinations, not only are you protecting yourself, but you’re protecting other people."
  

How do vaccinations work?

When you get a vaccine, a small amount of weak or dead germs imitating a disease are introduced to your immune system, helping it make antibodies. If the body gets exposed to the disease in the future, your immune system can recognize it right away and quickly fight it off, preventing you from getting sick. 

While your body builds immunity, a vaccine might cause tiredness or discomfort for a short time, but the resulting protection can last a lifetime. And while vaccination doesn’t grant 100% immunity, it does help the body learn how to defend itself from disease without the dangers of a full-blown infection.


Where to go to get your child vaccinated

“Vaccinations are offered at your pediatrician’s office, some clinics, pediatric urgent cares and also local pharmacies such as CVS, Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens — most all have vaccinations, you just have to ask,” said Senzaki.
 
She recommends making an appointment with your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider each year before school starts to make sure your child is up to date on immunizations, and so you can make informed decisions about your child’s health.
 

Recommended vaccinations for kids

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that vaccinations will have prevented approximately 508 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations and more than 1.1 million deaths in about 117 million children born between 1994 and 2023.

The CDC recommends the following schedule for the listed vaccines. See the complete list of vaccinations.
 
Hepatitis A
Recommended at 12 months and again between 18-23 months 
Hepatitis B 
Recommended at birth, again between 1-2 months, and again between 6-18 months
Varicella (chickenpox)
Recommended between 12-15 months and again between 4-6 years old
MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
Recommended between 12-15 months and again between 4-6 years old
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) 
Recommended at 2 months, at 4 months, at 6 months, again between 15-18 months, and again between 4-6 years old
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) 
Recommended between 11-12 years old
IPV (polio) 
Recommended at 2 months, at 4 months, again between 6-18 months, and again between 4-6 years old 
Flu 
Recommended yearly starting at 6 months old
HPV or Gardasil-9 
Recommended between 11-12 years old
Meningococcal or Menactra
Recommended between 16-18 years old
COVID-19
Recommended at least 1 dose of the current vaccine starting at 6 months of age
 

If you’re unsure what vaccinations your child has had or how often they need the listed vaccines, contact your pediatrician’s office or check your child’s MyChart account

For more information on the importance of immunizations and how they work, visit the Centers for Disease Control.
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