Back 2 School: Vaccines & Tests

Ahhhh August. For many, it’s just another month in the year, but those of us with kids know better… it’s Back 2 School season! But, as you’re stocking up on binders and multi-color highlighters, think: are your child’s medical records up-to-date?

Most K-12 schools have some form of vaccine requirement for the most life-altering communicable diseases, and so do many colleges! Back 2 School can be stressful, so let’s not add to the pile with last-minute doctor’s appointments!

Here are some age-specific tips for you and your child, no matter what kind of student they are:

• For your K-12 Kids:

  1. Vaccine requirements are often split into two groups: K-6th Grade and 7th-12 Grade. Your child will need to have the corresponding vaccines before they enter that grade! Check your state's local laws to find out which vaccines your child will need.

  2. Important: several of these are part of a multi-dose sequence, so you won’t be able to complete them last minute! The easiest way to make sure you’re on track is to follow the recommended schedule of well-child visits (2024).

  3. Another noteworthy vaccine is for HPV. It is often not required for K-12 under state law, but is highly recommended in young teens starting around 11 or 12.

     • HPV is commonly contracted during the teens, which can then develop into various forms of cancer in men and women later in life, so ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s available while you’re getting things updated!

  4. Vaccination is a decision that you should make with your health care team. You may be able to qualify for a medical, religious, or personal exemption depending on the state you live in. Some things to keep in mind:

     • Depending on the state you're in, claiming an exemption can have unintended consequences, like prohibiting your child from attending school if there is an outbreak of any of these diseases.

     • They may need to receive these vaccines later in life to attend college, and it can be difficult to catch up last minute. Importantly, not all universities allow non-medical vaccine exemptions.

• For your College Kids

  1. College vaccine requirements tend to vary much more widely than K-12 vaccine requirements, so it’s extra important to check the institution’s vaccine requirements online or by calling. It is not uncommon for a university to require additional vaccines beyond what you needed for K-12!

  2. Colleges often require you to submit vaccine records online, which means you need to collect those records from your physician/pharmacy. Some offices may not be equipped to send digital files, so it’s a good idea to get these before your child moves off to college!

  3. Some schools may require a recent tuberculosis test for incoming students, especially those in the health sciences. This can involve either a skin test (TST; requires two visits) or a blood draw (IGRA; one visit). These tests can be less readily-available than regular vaccines (and may or may not be covered by insurance), so it’s worth planning ahead for them.

     • Some places you can look: your family doctor, pharmacies, the university’s student health clinic, the state health department.

  4. Colleges will generally allow medical exemptions, but they won’t always allow religious or personal ones! If you’re hoping to take advantage of an exemption, make sure they’re allowed and you understand the process of submitting one!

Here’s a helpful tip: did you know you can get many vaccines (often for free) at your local pharmacy?Scheduling doctor’s appointments can be a headache, so why not stop by your local pharmacy and skip the wait! You can often schedule appointments online, and sometimes even next-day!

This is a lot of information--I know! Having trouble digesting it all? I spent most of my career as a pharmacist and have lots of experience with Back 2 School vaccines. Whether you want someone to handle the medical compliance of college admissions, or if you just want a second set of eyes, I’m always here to offer a helping hand!