August 17, 2023
For immediate release
Stay healthy this year – get vaccinated!
DuPage County – August is National Immunization Awareness Month, making it a great time to check if your child is up to date with routine immunizations. The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is encouraging parents to add vaccinations to the top of their back-to-school checklist.
Immunization requirements for children and adolescents enrolled in childcare centers and schools in Illinois are consistent with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). See IDPH 2023-2024 School Immunization Requirements for more information.
During the pandemic, many children did not receive health checks and childhood vaccinations were recommended. While schools have taken many steps to limit the spread of COVID-19, diseases such as measles and chickenpox still pose a threat to children, staff and school communities. . The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that children get routine childhood immunizations and get their lives back on track, including parenting and school.
“Vaccinations play an important role in keeping children healthy in school, sports and social activities,” said Adam Foker, executive director of the DuPage County Health Department. “We need to keep all children up-to-date on immunizations. It’s never too late to start the school year off right.”
Immunization is one of the most effective, safe and cost-effective public health measures available to prevent disease and premature death. By ensuring children get their vaccinations on time, we can prevent diseases such as whooping cough (whooping cough), chickenpox, mumps, influenza and COVID-19.
DCHD urges parents to schedule routine immunizations and discuss them with their child’s doctor. In addition, DCHD provides pediatric vaccines through the Children’s Vaccines (VFC) program for all uninsured children, children with insurance that does not cover immunizations, or children eligible for Medicaid. Immunizations are available.
The VFC program helps eligible children to receive vaccines free of charge according to recommended immunization schedules, which directly contributes to significant increases in childhood immunization coverage and increases immunization coverage among infants. It contributes greatly to the elimination of inequalities.
Additional VFC providers can be found through the VFC provider search. For more information on the VFC program, call DCHD at (630) 682-7400.
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