SOMERVILLE, NJ – With back-to-school season arriving, it is the perfect time to make sure children are caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended vaccines. The Somerset County Department of Health encourages residents to talk to their doctor to ensure their children are protected against serious diseases by getting routine vaccinations.

“Our kids have been playing outside all summer long, but with the start of school they head back indoors to closed classrooms where germs can easily spread to each other, and then be brought home to families,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Doug Singleterry, liaison to the Department of Health. “Nothing is more important than our children’s health, and vaccination protects not just our own children but all the students spending the next nine months learning and growing together in Somerset County’s excellent schools.”

Following the recommended vaccine schedule from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the best defense parents can do to help protect their child from potentially serious diseases such as polio, measles, cancer, whooping cough, and chickenpox. With the help of vaccines, many of these diseases have become rare in the US, but some do still exist. When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk of disease and can spread diseases to others in their classrooms and community. This includes babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to health conditions.

New Jersey has specific vaccination requirements based on age groups prior to students entering into a childcare and preschool programs and K-12 schools. The school nurse can provide additional guidance on how to provide proof of your child’s vaccination to the school, and more information is available at https://www.nj.gov/health/vaccines/nj-immunization-requirements/.

Additional recommended vaccines include a yearly flu vaccine, the HPV vaccine, and COVID-19 vaccine:

• Flu vaccine– A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older and ideally before the end of October. *A flu shot is a yearly requirement for children 6 months – 59 months of age entering a Child Care or Preschool program in New Jersey.
• HPV vaccine– It prevents HPV infection, which is a common virus that can lead to six different types of cancer, including in the mouth and throat. It is most effective if given to preteens, 11 to 12 years old, OR as early as age 9, and can be given with the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines. There is no treatment for HPV infection, but there is a vaccine to prevent it.
• COVID-19 vaccine– Everyone 6 months and older should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. This lowers the risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, or passing away from COVID-19.

Vaccines are also important for adults and recommendations are based on age, health conditions, job, and other factors. Residents should talk to their healthcare provider or use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be right for them.

To learn more about the 2023 Immunization Schedules, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/.

For additional information on New Jersey Immunization Requirements, visit: https://www.nj.gov/health/vaccines/nj-immunization-requirements/.

Somerset County Department of Health (SCDOH) is dedicated to fostering healthy lifestyles and a safe environment through effective leadership in public health, comprehensive planning, development of proactive community partnerships and a continued commitment to public health service.

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