Healthy Kids, Happy School: The Importance of Immunizations

With the arrival of summer's end and the start of the school season, it's essential to shift our focus towards the upcoming academic year. Listed below are the necessary vaccinations that school-age children must receive before going back to school.

1. DTP/DTaP: protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus causes painful stiffening of the muscles. Prevention: For children seven years and under, it is best practice to receive the DTap vaccination.

2. Hepatitis B: protects against liver disease, which can cause a mild illness lasting a few weeks or a serious, lifelong illness. An infected individual quickly spreads hepatitis B to a non-infected individual through blood or other body fluids. Prevention: Three doses of the hepatitis B shot are recommended for children. The first dose after birth, the second at 1-2 months, and the third between 6-18 months (about one and a half years)

3. MMR: Protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox), along with preventing the complications caused by these diseases. Prevention: all children get two doses of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second at 4 through 6 years old. Children can receive the second dose at least 28 days (about four weeks) after the first dose.

4. Polio protects children by preparing their bodies to fight the poliovirus; people infected with Polio can develop more severe symptoms such as Meningitis and paralysis. Prevention: Children should get four doses of inactivated polio vaccine for best protection.  

5. Varicella (Chickenpox): This is highly contagious and transmitted from person to person by direct touching an infected person. The virus can be transmitted airborne by coughing or sneezing. Prevention: Children aged 12 months through 12 years get two doses of Varicella (chickenpox).  

6. Meningococcal (7th grade only): This is a deadly bacterial disease called Neisseria meningitidis, which can result in death. It is transmitted through close and lengthy contact with individuals. Prevention: Preteens and teens should receive the Meningococcal vaccination.

7. Tdap (7th grade only): Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. Prevention: Preteens and teens should receive a single dose of the Tdap vaccination. 

Recommended Vaccinations  

As the seasons shift quickly and the cold and flu season draws near, now is a good moment to consider the advised COVID-19 and Influenza vaccinations for your children.

The Jemez Public Health Nursing Team will collaborate with the Jemez local schools to organize school vaccine clinics for the upcoming 2023-2024 influenza season. Stay tuned for further details in our upcoming blogs.

While we focus on ensuring your child has a great school year, keeping up to date with recommended child vaccines protects your child and creates a safer environment for everyone at school. By staying current with immunizations, you protect your children and keep the community healthy.  

Resources:  

If you need to download your child’s immunization record from the NM State Immunization registry, click this link:  https://vaxview.doh.nm.gov/   

 For more information regarding your child's recommended vaccines, contact your child's pediatrician or call the Jemez Health Center at (575) 834-7413. 

Get vaccinated and stay healthy! Your future self will thank you for the extra protection. Here is to a great school year!  

Sources: ​(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) & National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, 2019)​