8 Must-Have Vaccines for a Smooth Back-to-School Transition

With back-to-school season in full swing, parents are busy checking off lists to ensure their children are ready for the classroom. Among the most critical preparations are school physicals and vaccinations. According to Dr. Marc Watkins, Chief Medical Officer of Kroger Health, these steps are essential not just for compliance with school requirements, but also for ensuring your child’s overall health. Here’s what parents should know as they prepare their children for the new school year. The Importance of Routine Vaccinations Vaccination rates have not fully rebounded since the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are several reasons for this. “We have the usual suspects: general mistrust of healthcare within the Black community, combined with overall vaccine fatigue. This has carried over from the COVID pandemic to where we are now, making it feel like we’re still climbing uphill. It’s a challenge to help people understand that vaccines remain incredibly safe, effective, and important to our overall health,” Dr. Watkins tells BlackDoctor.org. Key Vaccines to Consider As you prepare your children for school, it’s important to ensure they are up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccines. Dr. Watkins recommends the following vaccines based on age group: For Ages 4-6: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) Measles, Mumps,...