We’re so grateful to Amanda, of Nutritionist Reviews, for partnering with us to share her family’s story! View Amanda’s full blog post here.
What is happening with your schools this fall? For my kid’s school district, the plan is to go completely online for the beginning of the year and then transition into face to face learning once it is safe. We are treating it just like a regular school year by getting our back to school supplies, taking my kids for their annual physical and getting any vaccines that they may be due for. Today, I want to share why it is so important to stay up to date on vaccines for back to school and during the pandemic.
During this time of Covid-19, it is more important than ever to get your vaccines as recommended. Just through April of this year, Michigan saw a 15.3 percent drop in vaccines for kids 24 months and younger compared to the same period last year. I totally understand being nervous to go out of your home and into a physician’s office but it is also really important to help prevent your child from getting different illnesses.
Our pediatrician’s office is taking so many precautions that I felt really safe taking the kids for a checkup and for their vaccines. We all wore our masks (except for the baby), they sanitize everything, space out appointments, see sick patients only in the afternoon, only allow one family in the waiting room at a time and more. Though my kids are like any other kids and get nervous about getting their shots, they know how important shots are to stay healthy.
Some of the important vaccines should be given as scheduled are pertussis (whooping cough) and measles which broke out last year. If people do not get their children their vaccines, they could potentially get these diseases. I want to make sure to protect my kids from any illnesses that they could possibly get which is why we vaccinate.
I ask you to reach out to your child’s pediatricians office before school starts to make sure that they are up to date on their vaccines. Even little ones that are not going to school yet like Lily, we make sure she has her vaccines because in normal times, we take her places like the school to pick up and drop off her siblings.
We follow the CDC-recommended immunization schedule to provide immunity to different illnesses early in life when children are the most at risk for getting seriously ill from these diseases. The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics are recommending that healthcare providers see kids for well child visits, especially under age 2 who need frequent routine vaccines. Learn more at I Vaccinate.