Back-to-School Vaccinations Checklist

The back-to-school time of year is an obvious one to think about catching up on recommended vaccinations and to learn about what's newly being offered. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a disease prevention agency named Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which works to provide the nation with the information and tools it needs to protect health and ensure life.

The CDC has a specific section of its website dedicated to Vaccines & Immunizations. Under Vaccine-Related Topics are sections about recommendations and guidelines, vaccines and preventable diseases, basics and common questions, vaccination records, vaccine safety and adverse events, for travelers, for specific groups of people, and more. The site also has a subsection on Immunization Schedules with links to helpful information and downloadable .PDF files you can actually print out and take with you to your doctor.

2009 Child & Adolescent Immunization Schedules

You can access the 2009 Child & Adolescent Immunization Schedules here, with separate files to download and print for persons aged 0-6 years, 7-18 years, and "catch-up schedules."

For children who are caught-up with immunizations and are ages 4-6 years, the back-to-school recommendations include Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP), Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV), annual Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), and Varicella vaccines. Additional immunizations are recommended for certain high-risk groups.

Ages 7-18 years have a similar schedule of recommendations in that specific vaccines are suggested at every age range of 7-10, 11-12, and 13-18. Refer to the file for specifics on recommended immunizations and suggestions on how to catch-up if you have fallen behind or started late. (You can also find adult immunization schedules with vaccine recommendations for those who are 18 years and older.)

Seasonal Influenza & Swine Flu (2009 H1N1) Vaccinations

The CDC has an explanatory questions and answers page discussing the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, H1N1 being the scientific name of what's commonly called the swine flu. The recommended seasonal influenza vaccine is not the same as the anticipated 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, which is expected to debut sometime this fall (specific dates have not been provided).

Although the regular seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against swine flu, individuals are encouraged to get their regular seasonal flu vaccine like normal as soon as it is locally available. When the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine becomes available, individuals wishing for the additional protection may then receive the swine flu vaccine separately.

Although not expected for the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine, in case of a shortage the vaccine will be administered to certain high-risk groups first--likely including "pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems."

Sources:

"CDC H1N1 Flu - Questions & Answers Novel H1N1 Influenza Vaccine." CDC.gov.

"Vaccines: Home Page for Vaccines and Immunizations." CDC.gov.

"Vaccines: Immunization Schedules." CDC.gov.