As a new school year approaches, one item to check off students’ to-do list is making sure they are up-to-date with vaccinations.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to remind people that vaccine-preventable diseases are still a threat, and emphasize that each of one of us has the power to protect against these diseases. There are several required vaccines each child must have before attending an Iowa school, including shots protecting against diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis, polio, measles/rubella, hepatitis B, varicella, and meningococcal. Pediatrician Dr. Cody Silker of Guthrie County Hospital and Clinics says the benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh any cons, “Before these vaccines people were dying from these diseases or getting complications, as far as deafness or landing in hospitals and getting on ventilators because of these diseases. So I think they require them because I think people have seen when we don’t get them and these diseases do start to be outbreaks that there can be horrible consequences.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iowa Department of Public Health has not announced any suspension of immunization requirements for the upcoming school year. Students that have received at least one dose of each of the required immunizations may attend school by submitting a Provisional Certificate of Immunization, which is valid for 60 days and allows time for the child to receive additional vaccine doses.