As kids buckle down and head back to school, parents everywhere are dreaming of an A+ year. One way to help your children be their best is to make sure they’re up to date on their vaccinations.

In Alabama, immunizations aren’t just recommended for students, they’re required. According to Alabama state law, all children must have an updated Certificate of Immunization to enter schools and childcare facilities, except in the case of religious and medical exemptions. That’s because immunizations help keep kids healthy and they keep the school community healthy, which enables students to make the most of their education.

Here are five things to know about vaccines.

1. Vaccines can protect your child from getting sick. Immunizations also help stop the spread of contagious diseases, which may protect other children at school. By staying healthy throughout the year, your kids can keep learning and not have to worry about missing valuable class time.

2. Immunization trains the body to protect itself. That’s because vaccines introduce dead or weakened germs, called antigens, into the body, which then prime the immune system to fight back. As a result, if you’re exposed to the condition you were vaccinated against (such as the flu, COVID-19, the measles or another contagious disease) your body is trained to keep you healthy, or to prevent serious illness.  

3. Your primary care provider can let you know what vaccines your child needs. Here’s a handy checklist from Alabama Public Health so you have an idea of what to expect:

Required:
DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis): K – 5^th
IPV (Polio): K-5^th; 6^th-8^th; 9^th-12^th
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): K-5^th; 6^th-8^th; 9^th-12^th
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis): K-5^th; 6^th-8^th; 9^th-12^th
Varicella (Chickenpox): K-5^th; 6^th-8^th; 9^th-12^th

Recommended:
Flu vaccine: All ages
Hepatitis A and B: All ages
HPV vaccine: Ages 9 and older
Meningococcal vaccine: Ages 11 and older

4. Vaccines are safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says vaccination is “the best way to protect yourself and your family against serious diseases.” Every vaccine is thoroughly tested before being approved, and the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to monitor vaccines for safety after they become available to the public. Over the last 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 154 million lives globally, according to the World Health Organization.

5. Vaccines may be available to children at low cost or even no cost. If your insurance policy doesn’t cover immunization, or if you don’t have health insurance, other options are available, including the Vaccines for Children Program. In Alabama, the VCF program may be available to children from birth up to age 18 if they’re enrolled in Medicaid, uninsured, underinsured, have insurance that doesn’t cover immunization, or if they are Native American or Alaskan Native.

Parents often have questions about vaccines, and that’s understandable. There’s a lot of information out there, and it’s hard to know what sources you can trust. Your best bet is to talk to your primary care provider about what’s right for your family. If you haven’t already, make an appointment now and help set your child up for success for the year ahead.