Vaccinations Required
With the hustle and bustle of the back-to-school season, it is crucial to not overlook the vaccinations that your child needs.
All school-age children – from preschoolers to college students – need vaccines to keep them protected from serious diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges parents to check in with their child’s pediatrician to make sure they are up to date on recommended and required vaccines.
Parents can find out which vaccines their children need and when the doses should be administered by reviewing CDC’s recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule (www .cdc.gov). Different states also have specific vaccine requirements for particular grade levels.
YOUNG CHILDREN
The CDC identifies 14 diseases that can become serious or even life-threatening to a child during the early years of life. Parents who choose not to vaccinate against them risk the disease not only for their children, but also for other children and adults throughout the entire community, the CDC says.
PRETEEN AND TEEN
As children move into the teenage years, they are more at risk for catching certain diseases, like meningococcal meningitis, according to the CDC. HPV is a vaccine built to protect against certain cancers and is recommended to be given during the preteen years. Check the CDC list for a complete immunization schedule for people ages seven through 18.
For diseases such as whooping cough, the protection from vaccine doses can wear off in the preteen years. Kids ages 11 and 12 are recommended to get the booster shot Tdap, which is a version of the protective DTaP vaccine given to infants and young children.
THE FLU VACCINE
Flu vaccines are recommended for all children 6 months and older. This obviously includes kids in preschool and elementary school. If your child is afraid of shots, your family doctor may have the option of using a nasal spray instead.
The flu can be a potentially serious issue affecting your child’s overall health, as well as the school attendance record. The CDC recommends adding the flu shot to your back-to-school routine every year.