California health officials stress vaccinations as school year approaches
As the school year approaches, California health officials are urging parents to update their children’s routine vaccinations to comply with state requirements and prevent disease outbreaks.
California law requires students to be immunized against 10 serious diseases before attending public or private schools and licensed childcare centers. Dr. Dean Blumberg, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at UC Davis, emphasized the importance of vaccinations in school settings.
“It’s especially important in school where children are together. They’re sometimes very close together, and if a disease outbreak occurs, it could really go through the school, so we want to make sure that the schools are safe environments for children to learn, and we want to make sure that we prevent outbreaks,” Blumberg said.
Earlier this year, EdSource analyzed state data and found that 428 schools in state were being audited by the California Department of Public Health due to low vaccination rates. School districts can face financial penalties if they fail to comply with California’s immunization policies.
Health experts stress that maintaining high immunization levels is crucial to limiting the risk of outbreaks.
“It’s really important to have a high rate of immunity to measles. For measles, we really need about 95% or more people to be immune. If the immunization rate falls below 95%, then if a case is introduced at school, it could really spread rapidly,” Blumberg said.
Measles, one of the most contagious diseases to humans, remains a significant concern. Efforts to vaccinate children ahead of the school year come as health officials report new data on measles infections. While measles was officially declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded more than 2,300 cases this year, with major outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah and Arizona contributing to the rise. Experts warn that the actual spread may be greater due to underreporting and declining vaccination rates.
Doctors recommend that parents review their child’s immunization records before the school year begins, as proof of required vaccinations is necessary for students entering kindergarten and seventh grade.
For families facing challenges in accessing vaccines, the Vaccines for Children Program offers no-cost vaccinations for eligible children who are uninsured or otherwise qualify.
“There are certain people who are at risk to be under-immunized, and so those would be those who don’t have or are underinsured, not insured because then they don’t see their health care provider,” Blumberg said. “This often affects families that are lower income, families who don’t speak English as their primary language, for example.”
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