As summer winds down and families gear up for a new school year, back-to-school vaccines are one of the most important items on the checklist. Immunizations don’t just protect individual children they safeguard entire classrooms, schools, and communities.
When measles outbreaks and vaccine-preventable illnesses are resurging in various parts of the country, staying current with routine childhood vaccinations is more important than ever. For pediatric and family practices, this is a pivotal time to support families and ensure students are up to date before the first day of school begins.
Required Vaccines for School-Age Children
Each state has its own vaccination requirements for daycare, preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students. Most commonly required immunizations include:
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- DTaP/Tdap (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
- Polio
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Hepatitis A & B
- Meningococcal
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
Tips for Healthcare Providers
- Communications Outreach: Use email reminders, text messages, or patient portals to schedule appointments before the back-to-school rush
- Address Vaccine Hesitancy: Listen empathetically to concerns and provide clear, evidence-based responses.
- Use of Technology: Online Scheduling & Patient Portals can make it more convenient for parents to book vaccination appointments and providing families easy access to immunization records and educational resources.
Why It Matters
Vaccine-preventable diseases like measles can spread rapidly in school settings. Vaccination is not just a personal health decision it’s a community’s responsibility. With rising misinformation and hesitancy, providers play a vital role in building trust and confidence in vaccines. As students head into the new academic year, let’s work together to ensure children walk into school with backpacks full of supplies and immune systems ready to protect them.
RESOURCES
Contact CPP at cpp@nationwidechildren.org to access and print CPP’s branded vaccine pediatric and adolescent immunization schedules. The evidence-based Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics in November 2024 can be found here.
