By: Alicia Pinckney, Senior Coordinator, Marketing Communications

With the start of every school year, there is one thing that parents must do – make sure their kids are vaccinated! Vaccinations are not just for kids; However, it is just as important for adults to get them as well.

According to Cedar-Sinai Hospital childhood immunizations fell dramatically during the height of the pandemic with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ordering 14% fewer vaccines in the 2020-21 school year. Drops like these leave communities more vulnerable to the spread and resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses such as measles.

In addition to other diseases, parents can take their child who is between 6 months and 5 years old to get their COVID-19 vaccine.

If you are unsure of all the vaccines needed for your child, the CDC released this schedule for those who are 18 years old and younger.

Vaccines for Adults

If making sure your children are protected against diseases was not enough, you must remember to take care of yourself!

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans that cover children now allow parents to add or keep children on the health insurance policy until the age of 26 years old.

Here is a list of some common and uncommon vaccines that both children and adults need to pay attention to:

• COVID-19 Omicron Boosters: Reformulated to protect against the Omicron variants, the FDA has authorized the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.
• Meningitis Vaccine: The CDC recommends that those who work in schools or are attending colleges and universities need to get their meningitis vaccine.
• JYNNEOS Vaccine: Approved for prevention of smallpox and monkeypox, it is the primary vaccine being used during this outbreak in the U.S. It is recommended that qualified adults get both doses of this vaccine.
• Hepatitis A Vaccine: Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Symptoms can last from a few weeks to several months

Some adults with specific health conditions should consult with their doctor to make sure you get the vaccines that are right for you.

During vaccine season, we need to remember to keep ourselves and each other safe, and immunizations will help us do that!