Health & Parenting

Back-to-School Vaccinations Made Simple

Catch-Up Vaccines

Older children should receive HepB, Polio, MMR, and Varicella vaccines if they did not receive the recommended doses when they were younger. The CDC also recommends a second “catch-up” varicella shot for children, adolescents, and adults who have previously received one dose. Some children may need additional vaccines either based on their personal risk profile such as pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPV), Hepatitis A, and influenza.

“The schedule is very complicated compared to 15 years ago,” Rodewald says. Why? “There are twice as many diseases that can be prevented through vaccines and the schedule changes every year.”

The best way to stay on top of this all-important info is to routinely ask your pediatrician or nurse to review your child’s file and make sure they are up to date on their shots. “Vaccination is the safest way to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases,” Rodewald says. “Get them in as timely a manner as possible and adhere to school immunization laws.”