As students head back to the classroom, it’s important to ensure they can return to safe in-person learning that not only keeps them healthy all school-year long, but also those around them. One of the most effective preventative ways to keep children — and as a result, their peers, teachers and families — protected from illness is through on-time immunizations.

National Immunization Awareness Month occurs every August to highlight the importance of vaccinations for individuals of all ages. Vaccines are safe and work with your child’s natural defenses to protect them from potential deadly diseases.

Ensuring all school-aged children have proper immunizations — including the COVID-19 vaccine for those who are eligible — is a community health responsibility. Vaccines are necessary to protect vulnerable community members who could be seriously impacted by illness, including newborns who aren’t old enough for vaccines, seniors with underlying health conditions or chemotherapy patients with compromised immune systems.

Why Are Vaccines Important?

The immunization schedule for school-aged children is designed to provide immunity early on before children are exposed to any life-threatening, serious diseases. For a full immunization schedule, from birth through 18 years, visit cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH), diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and whooping cough used to take a substantial toll on the healthcare system before their respective vaccines were developed. Now, many of these diseases are largely forgotten about in the U.S., proving the efficacy that mass routine immunizations can have on public health.

Most vaccine-preventable diseases are spread from person to person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A child who is vaccinated becomes immune to the disease, meaning they cannot get that specific disease or spread it to others. When there are high numbers of vaccinated children and adults in a community, the risk for the disease to spread is minimized.

When parents choose not to vaccinate their children, it allows the disease the opportunity to widely spread again. It puts not only your child but others who encounter them, at an increased risk for contracting a deadly disease.

For example, due to a rise in anti-vaccination misinformation in the U.S., the country had more than 1,200 cases of measles in 2019, according to the CDC. That’s the highest number of cases reported in the country since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. If the rate of childhood immunizations continues to decline in the country, future generations will be at risk for diseases that have not been a cause for present-day concern.

Children and the COVID-19 Vaccine

To prevent another COVID-19 outbreak from occurring, parents are encouraged to ensure their children ages 12 and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Although fewer children have been infected with the virus compared to adults, they can still get sick from it and more importantly, spread it to others they encounter, such as family members, teachers, coaches and friends.

The COVID-19 vaccine works similarly to other childhood vaccines, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The vaccine teaches your child’s immune system to recognize the virus that causes COVID-19 and produce the necessary antibodies to fight it off.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the CDC have carefully reviewed the clinical trials for Pfizer’s COVID vaccine, and it has been officially deemed safe and effective. It’s another method for parents to ensure their children stay healthy enough for the classroom and to minimize sick days throughout the year.

Schedule a Well-Child Appointment

Your child’s provider will ensure they are up to date on their immunizations during their annual well-child exam. During this time, you can also address your concerns about their growth and development or any other questions you may have about the COVID-19 vaccine.

For families without health insurance or with a high-deductible plan, children can receive free vaccinations from Vaccines for Children (VFC) through Prowers County Public Health and Environment. Prowers Medical Center Clinic offers vaccines through this program.

To schedule an appointment at Prowers Medical Center Clinic, call 719-336-6767.