North Carolina, Raleigh – August is back to school month, and student health is a fundamental part of their academic success. Health authorities advise parents to be up to date on their school-aged children's required and recommended immunizations to prevent unnecessary school absences.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health (NCDHHS), childhood and adolescent diseases that can be prevented by vaccines include:
- Varicella
- Meningitis
- The measles
- Whooping cough (whooping cough) and others are still seen in North Carolina.
“Following CDC recommendations to control the spread of all vaccine-preventable diseases is an essential part of the well-being of children and families,” said Dr. Zack Moore, state epidemiologist.
“NCDHHS is helping health care providers, parents and guardians take this essential step to protect children's health at school and at home,” he added.
Back to school: free vaccination programs
Children who do not have health insurance can get vaccinated at little or no cost through the Vaccines for Children Program. Vaccines are offered free of charge to children up to 19 years of age.
Steven Gunn and Karin Szymanski, co-chairs of the North Carolina Immunization Coalition, said vaccines are one of the most cost-effective and successful means available to prevent disease and death.
“They help protect vaccinated people and our entire community by reducing and preventing the spread of infectious diseases,” the experts said.
A call for awareness
Governor Roy Cooper declared August as Immunization Awareness Month, joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the annual national observance of the importance of having recommended vaccines for all people throughout the year. his life.
Whether children are homeschooled or attend a public, private, charter, or religious school, state laws require them to stay up-to-date on certain vaccines based on their age, as recommended by the CDC.
In conjunction with the governor's proclamation, NCDHHS is partnering with health care providers and other stakeholders on a statewide awareness campaign to help ensure school-age children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Teenagers are also at risk
NCDHHS said teens also face unique risks related to communicable diseases.
Dr. Dimitrios (Takie) Hondros, president of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, said that as children move into preteens and teens, they become more susceptible to certain diseases, so it is especially It is important to stay up to date on vaccinations.
“At the same time, tweens and teens tend to have fewer visits to their doctor's office, which increases the chance that they are out of date,” Dr. Hondros said.
“This decline in vaccinations accelerated among adolescents during the pandemic, when stay-at-home orders went into effect,” he noted.
CDC Vaccine Information
List of immunizations required for return to school for kindergarten through 12th grade. You can download it by clicking the yellow button.
To view the guide to required immunizations for children in kindergarten, grade 7, and grade 12, click here.
They also encourage vaccinating them against Covid-19
NCDHHS encourages all parents to talk to their child's healthcare provider about recommended vaccines. They also suggest taking advantage of the visit to request the Covid-19 vaccine for children 6 months and older.
For more information about Covid-19 vaccines, you can visit: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines
Parents or guardians who are unsure what vaccines their children need at any age can find out what is needed by taking a short questionnaire on the CDC website:
https://www2a.cdc.gov/vaccines/childquiz
Additional information on vaccine-preventable diseases and immunizations for North Carolina families is available at:
https://immunization.dph.ncdhhs.gov/family
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