COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the state of Ohio, students have to show proof of several different vaccines before they can attend school.

What You Need To Know

  • Kids need most of their vaccines before entering kindergarten

  • Children should visit their primary care physician at least once a year

  • Handwashing, rest and a healthy diet can also reduce the likelihood of back to school colds

Along with a new bookbag and new shoes, parents need to make sure they are sending their children back protected from things like measles and chickenpox. Before entering the first day of school, kids have to be up to date on their vaccines. 

Schools require the following vaccines:

  • Hepatitis B 

  • The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella)

  • Polio

  • Chickenpox 

  • DTaP

  • Tdap 

  • Meningitis

While most shots are administered before a child even enters kindergarten, some are administered later in life and in two different doses.

The meningitis vaccine is split up in two doses, where the first is given in seventh grade and the second is given a child’s senior year of high school.

Staying up to date on vaccines is important, which is why students should visit their primary care doctor or get a physical at least once a year, preferably before the first day of school. However, this can be hard for families struggling to make ends meet. 

Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers mobile care centers where, with the consent of their parents, kids can get their immunizations, sports physicals, blood work, and more.

The mobile care centers were created to provide equity in health care. The goal is to have herd immunity, which constitutes for at least 90% of the community to have the necessary vaccines. Some parts of the state struggle more than others, which is why accessible health resources are key. 

“We see the cases that happen sometimes when kids aren’t protected and can have these serious or even life-threatening illnesses that are 100% preventable,” said Dr. Sara Bode who is with Nationwide Children’s Hospital School Health department. “One example would be the measles vaccine. You know, we have seen outbreaks of measles in recent years in school settings, in other settings, and those are almost exclusively in unvaccinated children. That’s a preventable disease that we talk a lot about.”

Besides vaccinations, there are also ways to prevent the back to school colds. Flu season is around the corner and you want to make sure your kid has their flu shot.

Ensuring your child is getting plenty of rest, and eating healthy, well-balanced meals is also key. Children should also wash their hands between meals and activities to limit the spread of germs.