The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP), the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition (IMCHC) and state health officials urge parents to see a doctor to ensure their child’s immunizations are up-to-date before heading back to the classroom this fall. To coincide with the back to school season, August is National Immunization Awareness Month to highlight immunizations as one of the most important ways parents can protect their children against serious diseases.

“Because of the success of vaccines in preventing disease in the United States, parents are often unaware their children are still at risk for many serious and life-threatening diseases,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold. “There are some children who cannot be vaccinated for either medical reasons or they are still too young, so it is important parents continue to have their children vaccinated. I encourage parents to check with their physician or local health department about what vaccines are needed and what immunizations their child has already received.” Health officials recommend immunizations start well before a child reaches school age, as the majority of immunizations are recommended to begin as early as infancy. However, it is never too late to get up-to-date with vaccines, and health care providers will work with parents to make sure that children are adequately protected and school-ready. Parents and guardians should contact their child’s school or county health department for the most up-to-date immunization and health exam requirements. For questions about back-to-school vaccinations, check with your health care provider or call your county health department. For more information, visit www.ilmaternal.org, www.illinoisaap.org, or www.cookcountypublichealth.org.