Backpack. Pencils. Notebooks. Immunizations.
Is a trip to the doctor’s office or clinic on your back-to-school to-do list?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named vaccines one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century, and childhood immunizations are critical to controlling the spread of devastating diseases through our population.
However, not all families are getting the message, and even when they are, too few are acting on it. Did you know that some diseases made rare by immunizations are making a comeback? From whooping cough (pertussis) to measles, diseases that no American should have to face are becoming more common because some people are more suspicious of safe vaccines than the dangerous illnesses they prevent.
Meanwhile, others find themselves too busy to schedule immunizations. Even though they may not intend to do this, people often end up prioritizing their day-to-day activities over protecting the health of their children and the health of their friends and siblings. Remember: when it comes to immunization, we are all in this together! Luckily, getting your child immunized may be easier than you think. Many clinics and pharmacies offer immunizations with easy-to-schedule or walk-in appointments.
Because we know vaccines are such an important part of population health, every year United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® includes Immunization Coverage as one of the variables used to determine a state’s overall health. The report defines this measure as the percentage of children 19 to 35 months old who have received the following vaccines: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP), Poliovirus, Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) and Hepatitis B Vaccine (HepB). I encourage you head to our website and see how your state ranks in immunization coverage.
Of course, kids’ back-to-school immunization needs don’t end there. Luckily, the CDC has created easy-to-read schedules for parents for immunizations needed between birth and 6 years of age and for immunizations needed between ages 6 and 18. Shots that older children need include the flu vaccine (this one applies to everyone older than 6 months, actually), the HPV vaccine for all 11- or 12-year-old girls and boys, and the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine at age 11 or 12 and the booster at age 16.
So what can you do? The America’s Health Rankings team recommends that those concerned about the rate of vaccinations in their state turn to the Guide to Community Preventive Services, which is put together by the Community Preventive Services Task Force with help from the folks at the CDC. The vaccines section of the guide shares proven ways to increase the number of people vaccinated in a community, including ways to increase people’s interest, how to improve access and innovations for providers.
A shot may sting for a moment, but it’s a small sacrifice to help safeguard your family and your state.