Getting ready for back to school or the first days of school for your first-time preschoolers or kindergarteners?

The Kane County Health Department is reminding parents that it’s time to make sure your kids are up to date with all vaccinations and immunizations for the coming school year. Vaccinations also are important for pre-schoolers and infants, the KCHD says.

“Unfortunately, we know from our Community Health Assessment that only about half of 2-year-olds in Kane County received the recommended vaccinations,” the Health Department said. “Outbreaks of communicable disease, such as the California measles outbreak in 2014, lead to increased absenteeism in workplaces and schools and increased healthcare costs.”

During August — National Immunization Month — the Health Department is emphasizing that vaccination is one of the best ways parents can protect infants, children and teens from 16 potentially harmful diseases, from chicken pox to mumps to lockjaw.

The benefits of vaccination are two-fold: In addition to providing individual immunity, high vaccination levels can provide protection against disease to those in a community who would otherwise be vulnerable.

During the month of August, the Health Department will be using social media to promote the practice of getting vaccinated, throughout one’s lifetime.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a wealth of information about National Immunization Awareness Month on its website, and additional information about immunizations can be found on the Kane County Health Department website.

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department

Who should be immunized? Everyone!

Illinois state law requires certain immunizations for children and adults enrolled in child care, school, or college. State law also mandates immunizations for adults in specific fields of work (healthcare).

What diseases do vaccines prevent?

Immunizations protect children against the following:

• Chickenpox
• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis B
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Influenza 
• Measles
• Meningitis
• Mumps 
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Polio
• Pneumococcal Disease
• Rotavirus
• Rubella (German measles)
• Tetanus (lockjaw)

Back to School Immunization Requirements

Beginning fall of 2014, all students entering, transferring, or advancing into kindergarten through 12th grades will be required to show proof of receipt of two doses of mumps and two doses of rubella vaccine. In addition, students entering, transferring, or advancing into kindergarten, sixth, or ninth grades are required to show proof of receipt of two doses of varicella vaccine.

Most students likely have already received the vaccine and simply need to provide the school with verifying documentation from their healthcare provider. To learn more, see Fall 2017 School Immunization Requirements.