August is a busy month: planning the last family vacation, back-to-school shopping, registering for classes, moving off to college and school enrollment. Recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) reminds Georgians to stay up-to-date and get a head start on vaccinations required for school.

“August is a great time of year to engage the community regarding vaccinations”, said Steven Mitchell, director of the Immunization Office of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Parents are refocusing on preparing their kids for school and it is our goal to make vaccinations a priority for both parents and students.”

August serves as a reminder that people of all ages require timely immunizations to protect their health. New this year, students born on or after January 1, 2002 and entering the seventh-grade need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster and adolescent meningococcal vaccinations. Every child in a Georgia school system (Kindergarten -12th grade), attending a child care facility, or a new student of any age entering a Georgia school for the first time is required by law to have a Georgia Immunization Certificate, Form 3231. Below are the immunizations required for child care and school attendance:

  - Diphtheria                                        - Mumps

  - Tetanus                                            - Rubella

  - Pertussis                                          - Hepatitis A and B

  - Polio                                                 - Hib disease (up to age 5 years)

  - Measles                                            - Varicella

  - PCV13 (up to age 5 years)               - Meningococcal Conjugate            

Vaccines protect families, teens and children by preventing disease. Not only do vaccinations help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to treat infectious diseases like influenza and pneumococcal disease, but they also reduce absences both at school and at work and decrease the spread of illness in the home, workplace and community.

This August, get smart and get immunized. The Georgia Department of Public Health reminds adults to not only check with their health care provider for their child’s current immunization recommendations – but check for themselves as well. Safe and effective vaccines are available to protect adults and children alike against potentially life-threatening diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, shingles, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox). Talk to your health care provider or visit your public health department and get immunized today.

For more information on immunization, visit http://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section.