Why June Is the Ideal Time to Stay Ahead of School Health Requirements
Summer is a time for vacations, pool days, and time away from the school routine—but it’s also the perfect time to catch up on routine childhood vaccinations. With schools in Georgia and across the U.S. enforcing strict immunization requirements, June offers families the chance to update vaccines before the July/August back-to-school rush begins.
From kindergarten readiness to pre-teen boosters and travel vaccines, making sure your child is protected now can help prevent delays, illnesses, and last-minute stress later.
State Vaccine Requirements for School-Aged Children
In the state of Georgia, the Department of Public Health requires all students entering daycare, pre-K, kindergarten, and grades 7 and 11 to be up to date on specific immunizations.
Georgia’s Required School Vaccines Include:
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis)
- IPV (Polio)
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis A
- MCV4 (Meningococcal vaccine for 7th and 11th grades)
- Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis booster for 7th grade)
Children must have a valid Georgia Immunization Form 3231 on file to enroll in school. If your child is behind or you’ve missed a well-child visit, now is the time to get caught up.
Why Pediatricians Recommend Certain Boosters at Specific Ages
Vaccines aren’t just one-time events. Many require multiple doses over time to build long-lasting immunity.
Key Ages for Immunizations and Boosters:
- 4–6 years: Second doses of MMR, Varicella, DTaP, and IPV before kindergarten
- 11–12 years: Tdap and MCV4; HPV vaccine is also strongly recommended
- 16–18 years: Second dose of MCV4 and optional meningitis B vaccine
These ages are carefully chosen based on how long immunity lasts and the risk of exposure during adolescence. For example, the Tdap booster helps protect against pertussis (whooping cough), which has seen a rise in recent years and can be severe in teens and infants.
Pediatricians also evaluate:
- Community disease trends
- Family history or special health conditions
- Timing with travel or upcoming school transitions
Your pediatrician can provide a customized vaccine catch-up schedule to help your child safely get back on track if any doses were missed.
Travel Vaccines to Consider for Summer Trips
If your family is planning international travel this summer, your child may need additional vaccines beyond the routine schedule.
Common Travel Vaccines Include:
- Typhoid – for parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America
- Yellow Fever – for certain areas in South America and Africa
- Hepatitis A – especially important for younger children traveling to areas with poor sanitation
- Malaria prophylaxis – medication, not a vaccine, but often prescribed for travel to malaria-endemic regions
- MMR booster – if your child is under 12 months and traveling internationally, an early dose may be recommended
Travel consultations should ideally happen 4–6 weeks before your trip, but even last-minute travel may warrant expedited vaccine planning. Pediatricians can guide you through the CDC’s travel vaccine recommendations based on your destination.
Myths and Facts About Childhood Vaccines
Vaccination has become a topic surrounded by misinformation. Here are some common myths and the evidence-based truths behind them:
Myth: Vaccines overload a child’s immune system
Fact: Children are exposed to hundreds of antigens daily. The current vaccine schedule is safe, tested, and well within a child’s immune capacity.
Myth: Natural infection is better than vaccination
Fact: While infection may lead to immunity, it also carries serious risks. Measles, for instance, can lead to brain swelling, pneumonia, or death. Vaccination offers immunity without the disease.
Myth: Vaccines cause autism
Fact: Multiple studies from around the world—including large-scale reviews by the CDC, WHO, and AAP—have proven no link between vaccines and autism.
Myth: My child doesn’t need vaccines because others are vaccinated
Fact: This is called “herd immunity,” but it only works when enough people are immunized. Declining vaccine rates lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases, including measles and pertussis.
Educating families with facts helps ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy, safe, and protected.
Pediatricians Make Vaccination Simple and Safe
Your pediatrician is your best partner in ensuring your child stays protected on time. During a well-child visit, your provider can:
- Review your child’s immunization history
- Provide any catch-up doses needed
- Offer travel-specific vaccine guidance
- Answer questions and address vaccine concerns with evidence-based clarity
By taking care of vaccinations early in the summer, you can avoid appointment delays and ensure your child walks into the new school year with full protection and no paperwork obstacles.
Book Your Child’s Vaccine Catch-Up Appointment Today
Summer is the perfect window to get ahead of vaccine requirements, protect your child during travel, and build lifelong immunity against preventable illnesses.
Contact our practice to schedule your child’s vaccine review and back-to-school physical before the busy season begins.
