As parents and children head “back to school,” the landscape looks very different this year. But one thing hasn’t changed: the importance of ensuring kids are up-to-date on their required vaccinations.
Vaccinations, also called immunizations, are shots that children get in order to be protected against certain illnesses. Staying up-to-date on vaccinations helps keep children, families, and communities safe from potential outbreaks of serious diseases. Unvaccinated children are more likely to catch and spread highly contagious illnesses such as whooping cough and measles.
To ensure your children are up-to-date on their vaccinations, by the time they enter kindergarten, required vaccinations will include:
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Polio
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis)
- Chickenpox/varicella
- Hepatitis B
- Meningitis
- A yearly flu shot (for children in child care, preK or 4K)
In addition to getting children up-to-date on their vaccinations, parents should also ask for the flu vaccine. This season, influenza vaccination – recommended for everyone 6 months and older without medical contraindications – is vital to help protect vulnerable populations and reduce the burden of respiratory illnesses and hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
