Preparing for Back-to-School Health: Ensuring Childhood Vaccines Are Up-to-Date

As the new school year approaches, parents face the challenge of ensuring their children's health and well-being. With the lingering effects of the pandemic, it's crucial to prioritize routine vaccinations to protect young students from a range of potentially serious diseases. Doctors are urging parents to review their children's immunization records and take proactive steps to keep them up-to-date before the first day of classes.

Safeguarding the Future: The Importance of Childhood Vaccinations

### Catching Up After the PandemicThe COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted routine healthcare visits, leading to a decline in childhood vaccination rates across the United States. Doctors report that some pediatric patients are still behind on their recommended vaccinations, putting them at risk of contracting preventable illnesses. With schools reopening, it's crucial for parents to work closely with their child's primary care provider to ensure they are fully protected."It's important for parents to remember these diseases, even though we don't see them frequently. … They're still there," said Dr. Kisha Davis, chief health officer for Montgomery County, Maryland. "Check in with your primary care doctor (about) what's the right vaccine to get at what age and stage."### Maintaining High Vaccination CoverageThe Vaccines for Children program has played a significant role in increasing vaccination rates since its inception in 1994. However, the pandemic has interrupted this progress, with vaccination coverage for some diseases falling below the federal target of 95%."Chasing you down for a vaccine became a lower priority" during the pandemic, said Dr. Davis, as schools and healthcare providers focused on ensuring students had access to essential resources like meals and technology for virtual learning.### Addressing Vaccine HesitancyAlongside the pandemic's impact, there has been an increase in vaccine hesitancy, leading to more non-medical exemptions being granted in various states. This trend is concerning, as it can contribute to the spread of highly transmissible diseases like measles, which have seen recent outbreaks in the United States."These are devastating illnesses," said Dr. Glenn Fennelly, professor in the pediatrics department at Texas Tech Health in El Paso. "It's a concerning trend."### Protecting Against the Flu and COVID-19In addition to routine childhood vaccinations, doctors are also emphasizing the importance of annual flu shots and the updated COVID-19 vaccines. These seasonal shots help shield individuals and their loved ones from respiratory illnesses, which can be particularly dangerous for young children."Our top recommendation for protecting yourself and your loved ones from respiratory illness is to get vaccines," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC. "Make a plan now for you and your family to get both updated flu and COVID vaccines this fall, ahead of the respiratory virus season."### Navigating the RSV Vaccine LandscapeThe newest vaccine on the scene is the shot that protects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a respiratory illness that can be severe in young children. The monoclonal antibody Beyfortus, developed by Sanofi and AstraZeneca, has been approved for use in certain age groups, but its availability has been limited due to increased demand.Health experts advise parents to work closely with their child's healthcare provider to ensure they can access the RSV vaccine when their child becomes eligible, as it is not available at pharmacies like the flu and COVID-19 shots.By staying informed, communicating with their child's healthcare providers, and prioritizing routine and seasonal vaccinations, parents can help safeguard their children's health and well-being as they embark on the new school year.