Vaccines for School
Posted on: August 15, 2012Categories: LiveWell 24/7Well, summer is almost over and fall is just around the corner.
With fall comes football, the fair, cooler weather, and for some adults and children, school!
According to the CDC:
School age children, from preschoolers to college students, need vaccines. CDC has online resources and tools to help parents and doctors make sure all kids are up-to-date on recommended vaccines and protected from serious diseases.
Your state may require children entering school to be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as pertussis. If you’re unsure of your state’s school requirements, check with your child’s doctor, your child’s school, or your health department.
Making sure that children of all ages receive all their vaccinations on time is one of the most important things parents can do to ensure their children’s long-term health―as well as the health of friends, classmates, and others in the community.
It’s true that some vaccine-preventable diseases have become very rare thanks to vaccines. However, outbreaks still happen. For example, preliminary data through late July 2012 show that more than 20,000 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) have already been reported in this country and many more cases go unreported. During this time, 9 deaths have been reported—all in children younger than 1 year of age. Outbreaks of pertussis at middle and high schools can occur as protection from childhood vaccines fades.
Another disease that can spread very easily in a school environment is measles. In 2011, the number of reported cases of measles was higher than usual—222 people had the disease. Measles comes into the United States from countries where the disease still circulates, including many European countries. Measles can be serious, causing hospitalization and even death. Young children are at highest risk for serious complications from measles.
Making sure children stay up-to-date with vaccinations is the best way to make sure our communities and schools do not see other outbreaks, with more unnecessary illnesses and deaths.
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