Back-to-School Checklist Should Include Vaccination

Parents want the best for their children – healthy and educated. Delaying or skipping vaccinations is harmful to your child’s health – and maybe education.

Lack of vaccination exposes your child to both medical and social implications. The former may lead to death or lifelong disability, while the latter may expose your child to psychological trauma. The two effects will adversely affect your child’s education.

Do you want your child to experience this kind of suffering? Then ensure your child gets their back-to-school vaccines.

From newborns to college students, vaccination can protect your child from 16 serious diseases. Ensure your child gets the following vaccines before the back-to-school rush:

Starting School (Age 4 to 6)

Some schools require a certificate of immunization to enroll your child in their institution. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child has received all recommended vaccines from birth.

Children aged 4 through 6 need additional doses of some vaccines. Furthermore, they need an annual flu vaccine to protect them against the disease. The following are the required vaccines for children starting school:

1. Varicella vaccine
The goal of the vaccine is to protect children against chickenpox. The immunization is first administered at 12 through 15 months. The second dose is dispensed to children aged 4 through 6 years.

2. DTaP Vaccine
The vaccine protects your child against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

3. MMR Vaccine
This immunization protects your child against measles, mumps and rubella.

4. IPV Vaccine
The vaccination is meant to protect children from polio. The disease is highly infectious and can lead to lifelong paralysis or death.

5. Flu Vaccine
The immunization safeguards your child against flu – an illness that can lead to hospitalization or even death. Vaccination against flu should be administered to anyone who is six months and above. This should happen annually before the end of October.

Elementary School (Ages 7 through 10)

The annual flu vaccine is the most important throughout these years, and is the only vaccination needed if they had all the other recommended vaccines through age 6. If your child has missed any vaccinations, consult your doctor immediately.

Preteens and College Students

Teens and preteens need the following vaccinations:

1. Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine
The vaccination is administered at age 11 or 12 – the second dose at 16. The goal of this immunization is to protect your child from bacterial meningitis.

2. Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine
This vaccination applies to college students and prevents strain B diseases.

3. DTaP Vaccine
This should be administered to kids aged 11 and 12. It helps to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

4. HPV Vaccine
It protects your child from infections that can result in cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, cervix, anus and throat. Children should receive this vaccination at age 11 or 12. The second dose should be 6 – 12 months after the first dose.

5. Flu Vaccine
Everybody should get a flu vaccination annually before the end of October.

Every child deserves to be vaccinated because vaccinations hinder the spread of contagious diseases, prevent disability and death. Promote your child’s education and health by ensuring they get all the required vaccinations.