August 13, 2025 – As families prepare for a new school year filled with learning, activities, and new experiences, one important item should be on every parent’s back to school checklist: making sure your child is up to date on their vaccines. Routine childhood vaccines are a simple, proven way to help keep your child safe.
Why Vaccines Are Especially Important at the Start of the School Year
When children return to classrooms, join extracurricular activities, and spend time with friends, they’re in close contact with many other students, creating more opportunities for exposure to contagious illnesses.
“School means kids are spending hours each day in shared spaces like classrooms, cafeterias, and playgrounds, where they’re interacting with more people,” says Uzma N. Hasan, MD, Division Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, part of the Children’s Health Network at RWJBarnabas Health. “This can increase the risk of getting or spreading infectious diseases, many of which are preventable with vaccines.”
Recommended Routine Vaccines for Children
These vaccines are recommended to help keep children healthy and ready to learn:
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Pneumococcal (PCV)
- Hib
- Polio
- Hepatitis A & B
- Influenza (annual flu shot)
Different childhood vaccines can be given at the same time, and they are most effective when administered at the specific ages recommended by medical professionals. View the full list of vaccinations required for all grades in the state and the Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Vaccines Help Kids Stay in School and Learning
When preventable illnesses spread in a classroom, they can lead to missed school days and disrupted learning. Help children stay healthy so they can fully participate in classes, activities, and social experiences that are important for their growth and development.
“Vaccines not only protect your child from serious illness, but they also reduce the risk of spreading diseases to others, especially those who are medically unable to be vaccinated,” says Dr. Hasan. “Most side effects are mild and short-lived, while the protection lasts much longer. They’re one of the simplest ways to help ensure your child has a healthy and uninterrupted school year.”
Protect Their School Year and Their Future
If you’re unsure or have questions about vaccines, start a conversation with your child’s doctor, Dr. Hasan suggests. “Pediatricians remain the most trusted source of information when it comes to your child’s health. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and keep the conversation going over time.”
Before the first bell rings, take a moment to check in with your child’s doctor. A quick visit now can help prevent illness, avoid disruptions to learning, and give you peace of mind that your child is ready for a healthy and successful school year.
Learn more about New Jersey’s most comprehensive Children’s Health network.