Back to school, time to get children up to date on vaccines

As children across North Carolina head back to school this month, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reminds families that vaccinations are an important part of back-to-school success and overall health and well-being.

“Ensuring children are current on their childhood vaccines is essential for both child and family health and well-being,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer for NCDHHS. “We encourage parents to work with their children’s health care provider or local health department to make sure they’re up to date to protect them from serious disease and help prevent the spread of disease in the classroom and at home.”

Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as meningitis, measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and others, are still seen across North Carolina. Keeping children up to date on vaccinations is the best way to keep them healthy and reduce severe illness and unnecessary absences from school. Children who are uninsured can be vaccinated at low or no cost through the Vaccines for Children program, which offers free vaccines to eligible children through 18 years of age.

“Vaccines remain one of the most effective means available to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death,” said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Acting Director of the NCDHHS Division of Public Health. “They help to protect the health of children, their families and the entire community from the spread of these infectious diseases.”

Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed August as Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina. Alongside the proclamation, NCDHHS is partnering with health care providers and stakeholders in a statewide awareness campaign to help ensure school-age children and teens are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

“As children, adolescents and young adults are returning to schools and universities, we must remember the critical role of vaccines in preventing illness,” said Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD FAAP, President of the North Carolina Pediatric Society “Well visits, sports physicals, school health assessments and any other health care visit can be used as an opportunity to receive or become up to date on immunizations.”

NCDHHS encourages all parents to talk with their child’s health care provider about recommended vaccinations. During that same visit, parents can talk with their physician about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine for their children ages six months and older. Visit this CDC portal for more information about COVID-19 vaccines.

“As children move into their preteen and teen years, they become more susceptible to certain diseases, making it especially important to stay current with immunizations. At the same time, preteens and teens tend to have fewer visits to their doctor’s office, increasing the chance that they are not up to date,” said Dr. Garett Franklin President of the NC Academy of Family Physicians. “Make sure our adolescents stay up to date by asking their physician about needed and recommended immunizations.”

More information and resources are available for parents and guardians:

• List of all vaccines required for school attendance from kindergarten through 12th grade
• NCDHHS kindergarten immunization dashboard
• CDC’s immunization catch up schedule
• Parents unsure which vaccines their children need at any age can find out what is needed by taking a short quiz on the CDC website
• Additional information on vaccine-preventable diseases and immunizations for North Carolina families is available here .

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