Back-to-school season is around the corner, are your children prepared? Back to school means new clothes, new school supplies, and, unfortunately, new germs.

Make immunizations a priority on your back-to-school list.

Protection from vaccine-preventable diseases begins as early as infancy. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that infants receive vaccines at birth, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 15-18 months of age. This schedule is important because a babyòòò½ÊÓƵ™s immune system is not fully developed at birth. Vaccines help train the immune system how to recognize certain diseases. According to the CDC, òòò½ÊÓƵœvaccines use very small amounts of antigens to help your childòòò½ÊÓƵ™s immune system recognize and learn to fight serious diseases.òòò½ÊÓƵ

Children entering school should receive booster doses to comply with the State of Texas requirements. Some vaccines, such as diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP), and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), require a series of doses for full effectiveness. Certain booster doses are also required before starting kindergarten to help protect your child and those around them at school.

As your children grow and become adolescents, they will also need additional vaccines and booster doses of those received when they were younger. This ensures continued protection against preventable diseases, such as Tdap. A recommended vaccine during this age group is the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, which helps protect against certain types of cancer later in life.

Back-to-school immunizations are important not only for young children and adolescents but also for students entering college. Young adults who plan to attend college are required to show proof of receiving the meningococcal vaccine or a booster dose if they received the initial vaccine during adolescence.

This vaccine is especially important because college campuses often involve close living quarters where meningococcal disease can spread quickly. Vaccination helps protect young adults from this serious and potentially life-threatening infection, making it a key college health requirement.

As students return to school, it is important to consider the flu vaccine. While not required, it is highly recommended to protect your children and yourself from contracting this common virus, which can cause serious complications and lead to missing school. The best time to receive this vaccine is during flu season, typically September through March. Vaccination helps reduce the risk of spreading illness in classrooms and at home.

The CDC recommends that parents discuss their childrenòòò½ÊÓƵ™s vaccination schedule with their pediatrician or family health care provider. These professionals are familiar with your childòòò½ÊÓƵ™s age and health conditions and can offer personalized guidance.

Staying up to date with vaccinations is one of the most effective ways to prevent communicable diseases from spreading in our schools. The CDC and ACIP websites offer helpful information on vaccines, recommended immunization schedules, and other valuable resources.

Teresa Gonzales began her career with the Victoria òòò½ÊÓƵ Public Health Department in 2022 as the TB Program Manager and was promoted to Nursing Manager in late 2024. A 2019 ADN graduate from Victoria College, she brings a strong background in critical care to her leadership role in public health nursing.