With the new school year around the corner, Bay Area health officials are urging families to put getting their children vaccinated at the top of their back-to-school checklist.
Vaccines are safe, effective, and a routine part of preventive health care, protecting against serious diseases such as measles, whooping cough and polio.
“Vaccines are among our most effective tools to ensure that every child has the chance to grow up healthy and safe,” said Dr. Lisa Hernandez, Santa Cruz County health officer, in a media release.
Children attending child care facilities or schools in California are required to be vaccinated against several diseases. Families are encouraged to:
- Check their child’s vaccination records with their health care provider or through California’s Digital Vaccine Record portal.
- Schedule child visits early and before the school year begins to avoid delays.
- Access low- or no-cost vaccinations through local public health clinics if uninsured or underinsured.
Most of Santa Cruz County’s students and educators head back to school during the first half of August, including those in the Santa Cruz City Schools district on Aug. 7 and in Pajaro Valley Unified School District on Aug. 13; click here for individual district calendars.
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