There’s been much discussion the past two years about the need and safety of vaccinating children against the COVID-19
virus. There are other vaccines that play an important role in protecting children and those around them from the spread
of serious illness.

Read through any writings about medical history, and you will find there have been many diseases that made a lot of
children very sick. Those diseases aren’t as common as they used to be, thanks to vaccines. But most are still around –
and potentially a risk.

That’s one of the best reasons to make sure our children get their recommended vaccinations on time.

Safe immunity

Immunizations help kids safely build immunity to the diseases that the vaccines help prevent. One example is measles, a
very contagious illness that can cause serious complications and even death.

Measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. But since that time, new outbreaks have occurred among people who were
not vaccinated.

Vaccines can also help prevent diseases such as whooping cough, chickenpox and meningitis.

Protecting our children is important. But there’s another reason kids need their vaccines: It helps protect other members of
your family and your community through herd immunity.

Back-to-school time

Back-to-school checkups are a good time to make sure children are up to date with their immunizations.

So which vaccines might a youngster or teen need? That depends on things like the child’s age and vaccine history.

To see what’s recommended, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s schedule of children’s
vaccinations: cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules.

Parents should talk to their child’s doctor if they have questions about vaccines.

Here are links to resources we’ve selected to help you spread the word about immunizations. We’ve chosen vaccine
information
from the CDC and articles on vaccine safety, fever and vaccines, how immunizations work and vaccines for
people with diabetes
.