Keeping up with necessary childhood immunizations is vital both for the child’s safety and the safety of those whose immune systems are too weak to be able to be immunized themselves. However, with all of the different acronyms across various immunizations, many parents do not even know what they are.
It can also be difficult to keep track of which shots should be happening when. In the first year or two of life, children are seeing their doctor frequently, and they are keeping track of everything that is required. But with less frequent visits to the doctor, there are less frequent reminders, too. Making sure that a child is seeing their doctor for a physical annually is a great way to ensure that they are not missing any important childhood immunizations or tests.
Childhood immunizations requirements do change from time to time as technology and healthcare improve. For example, chickenpox was basically a rite of passage a couple of decades ago, but it has just recently become vaccinated. And the incidence rate has now declined to the point where now, almost no children get it.
But this benefit will only occur if people stay on top of it before they get to the schools, which are the perfect breeding grounds for sicknesses and spreading illnesses. This is why school requirements for childhood immunizations exist in the first place.
Many school districts and private schools differ on the exact requirements and expectations for childhood immunizations. Below is a list of some of the more common requirements that children get before they go into kindergarten or middle school.
Earlier Requirements
Most children who see a pediatrician frequently enough will have gotten immunized for a wide variety of viruses that will later be required. For children who were homeschooled, did not enter the public school system until later, or come from overseas, they may not automatically check off all the requirements on this list.
The usual expectations to get into public kindergarten or primary school are: Polio, DTaP, MMR, and Varicella. DTaP stands for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, and this one requires four doses, including one during their school age. MMR is the measles, mumps, and rubella, which is also generally done when the children are very young. Varicella is the technical name for chickenpox. Chickenpox is completed in two doses, and they both must be done before kindergarten.
Secondary School
There are some childhood immunizations that will not need to be administered until they develop more. A Hepatitis B vaccine is often given to children when they reach pre-adolescence. This viral infection is extremely infectious and generally lasts for a long time. Another dose of the Tdap is required for students around middle school age in almost all counties.
Keeping in frequent contact with a trustworthy pediatrician is the best and really the only way to ensure that a child is as safe and healthy as possible as they grow. Be sure to have one on hand or find one nearby.
