As you and your child prepare for them to go back to school in the fall, you should ask yourself the question: are your child’s vaccinations up to date for back to school 2021?
This is not a topic to take lightly. Your child may not be able to attend school if they haven’t received the vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, for their age group.
In the guide below, you can see which vaccines your child should have (or expect to have) based on their age before they start school.
Children 0-6 Years Old
Even your littlest ones should be fully vaccinated before they go to daycare, preschool, or Kindergarten. The vaccines they receive during the formative years of 0-6 will protect them from dangerous, debilitating diseases, including polio, rubella, the mumps, and tetanus.
By age 6, your child should have had the following CDC-recommended vaccines:
- Varicella – protects against chickenpox
- DTaP – protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus
- Hib – protects against Haemophilus influenzae
- HepA and HepB – protect against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
- Flu vaccine – protects against influenza
- MMR – protects against measles, mumps, and rubella
- IPV – protects against polio
- PCV13 – protects against pneumococcus
- RV – protects against rotavirus
Children And Teenagers 7-18 Years Old
Just because your child is no longer little doesn’t mean they don’t need to continue to be vaccinated. For example, the CDC recommends getting at least 1 flu shot every year, regardless of age.
Other types of vaccines that you should ensure your older children receive to protect them from severe illness include:
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- Tdap – protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
- HPV – protects against human papillomavirus
- MenACWY – protects against meningococcal disease
Getting Regular Check Ups Is As Important As Vaccinations
In addition to staying up to date with vaccinations, it’s also important to take your child to the doctor for regular checkups. Not only do they make it easier for you to keep up with vaccines, they also help doctors find and treat preventable issues such as growth deformities and allergies.
A checkup can also help determine whether or not your child is more at risk for certain diseases, such as meningococcal and pneumococcal. If they are immunocompromised, they may need booster shots or different sets of vaccines. The only way to know for sure is to have your child’s health monitored yearly – or, in the case of a infant, every few weeks or months.
A Healthy Vaccinated Child Will Thrive In School
A child who is healthy and fully vaccinated is better protected against disease at school. As a result, they’re better able to fully enjoy their back to school experience, without having to worry about not feeling well and missing classes. Make sure you take them for regular doctor visits and get each CDC-recommended vaccination.