Remember Vaccinations Before School Starts
Stay up to date on immunizations, flu shots and checkups
Stay up to date on immunizations, flu shots and checkups
August means back to school for many kids. Before they walk through the school doors, make sure they’re up to date on their immunizations and have had a checkup.
Vaccines help keep children healthy and safe, protecting them from serious diseases such as measles, mumps and chickenpox. In most states, specific vaccines are required before a child can start school. In California, immunization records are checked when starting preschool, kindergarten, seventh grade or changing schools.
Not only does vaccinating children boost their immune system, it also helps make schools safer and prevents the spread of contagious illnesses in local communities.
“No vaccine is 100 percent effective, but by having a high percentage of the population up to date on immunizations, the risk is kept down for everyone,” says Michelle Dern, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Encinitas. “Vaccines are safe and effective when given according to the recommended schedule.”
Can vaccines make you sick?
Vaccines may cause minor side effects like redness and swelling at the injection site that usually go away in a few days. Severe allergic reactions are rare, but health care providers know how to handle them if one should occur.
Make sure to tell your child’s doctor about any allergies or bad reactions to vaccines they have had before. This will help the doctor give you the best advice on what to do next.
What is an immunization schedule?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to follow its Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for the best protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. The schedule covers children and teens from birth through 18 years and is updated regularly based on the latest evidence and expert review.
Vaccines work best when given according to this schedule — at the recommended ages and intervals.
You can check your child’s vaccination status by reviewing their immunization record provided by their doctor. This record will show which vaccines your child has received. Remember to keep this record current and bring it to all your doctor's appointments.
Are vaccines required for school?
Elementary and secondary schools have vaccine requirements set by states and local governments. All states allow medical exemptions and some also allow exemptions for religious and philosophical reasons.
California has strict vaccination laws that apply to both public and private schools. You can no longer use personal beliefs to exempt your child from vaccinations. Only licensed doctors can provide medical exemptions for valid reasons.
Studies show nationwide vaccination coverage among kindergarten students has fallen below pre-pandemic levels and exemptions have increased. This is due to various factors, such as missed vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic and misinformation about vaccines. For instance, there is no proof that vaccines cause autism.
California vaccination requirements
The California Department of Education requires students have the following immunizations:
Students entering transitional kindergarten or kindergarten:
- Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP, DTP, Tdap or Td) — five doses
- Polio — four doses
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) — two doses
- Hepatitis B — three doses
- Varicella (chickenpox) — two doses
Students entering 7th grade:
- Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) — one dose
- Varicella — two doses
Other important vaccines
In addition to the routine childhood vaccines given in early childhood, AAP recommends several additional vaccines as children grow into preteens and teens. These vaccines protect against serious infections that become more common or more dangerous in adolescence.
The AAP recommends the following:
- COVID-19 vaccine: Recommended for everyone 6 months and older, using the most up-to-date seasonal formulation.
- Influenza (flu) vaccine: Recommended every year for everyone 6 months and older.
- HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine: Recommended starting at 9–12 years, with the goal of completing the series by 11–12 years to prevent several HPV-related cancers.
- Meningococcal vaccines: MenACWY at 11–12 years with a booster at 16 years; MenB for 16–23 years (often 16–18 years, based on shared decision-making).
- RSV immunization (nirsevimab): Recommended for infants entering their first RSV season, and for some older infants 8-19 months old at increased risk before their second season. Your pediatrician will determine eligibility.
Well-child visits at Scripps
Your child can get their vaccinations during their well-child visit. Pediatricians recommend annual well-child visits from infancy through adolescence. In San Diego County, Scripps has pediatricians who provide comprehensive care at more than 20 Scripps Clinic and Scripps Coastal Medical Center primary care locations.
Flu vaccines are available at annual flu clinics and at Scripps HealthExpress, same-day, walk-in clinics across San Diego County. No appointment is needed at Scripps HealthExpress.
If your child plays school sports, sports physicals are also available at Scripps HealthExpress locations.