Vaccines = Healthy Students
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By Sheldon Riklon, M.D.
Students are heading back to school, and many parents and families are busy gathering supplies, setting schedules and preparing for a successful year. One essential step that is sometimes overlooked is making sure your child is up to date on their routine vaccinations.
Why Vaccinations Matter
Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to keep children healthy, protect classmates and teachers, and prevent the spread of serious diseases in schools and communities. When students, teachers and school staff spend time together in close spaces, germs can easily spread.
By keeping children on schedule with recommended vaccines, families help protect not only their children but also everyone around them. Vaccines work by teaching your body’s immune system how to fight disease without making you sick. When a large portion of a community is vaccinated, it becomes much harder for diseases to spread. This is called herd immunity or community immunity. It’s one of the most powerful tools that doctors have to stop the spread of disease and protect those who are the most vulnerable, such as infants who are too young to be vaccinated, people with weakened immune systems and older adults.
School Vaccination Requirements
Most states require students to be vaccinated before entering school, whether starting kindergarten, middle school or high school. In Arkansas, the following vaccines are required before a child can attend a childcare facility or educational institution, unless they have a medical, philosophical or religious exemption:
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Hib
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis A
- Pneumococcal
- Chickenpox
- Polio
- Meningococcal
You should review your child’s immunization records to be sure your child isn’t missing any vaccines or doses. Your child’s doctor or local health department can provide the most up-to-date requirements and answer any questions you may have.
Staying consistent with routine vaccinations helps children thrive in school. Healthy children miss fewer school days, stay on track academically, and fully participate in learning and activities. For more details about vaccine requirements and dosing schedules, visit cdc.gov.
Sheldon Riklon, M.D., is a professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and a co-investigator with the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation.