Talking back-to-school vaccines with U of M
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (09/10/2024) — As students head back to school this fall, it’s crucial for them to be up to date with their vaccinations for their health and the well-being of the community.
Emily Borman-Shoap, MD, with the University of Minnesota Medical School and M Health Fairview, speaks about recommended vaccines, updates to the vaccination schedule and the risks of not vaccinating.
Q: Why is it important for children to get vaccinated?
Dr. Borman-Shoap: Vaccines are one of our best tools to prevent illnesses, ranging from the common and annoying to the serious and potentially deadly. They teach our bodies how to fight bacteria and viruses. Getting vaccinated protects the person who gets the shots, as well as protecting our whole community.
Q: What are the common vaccines recommended for children?
Dr. Borman-Shoap: Recommended vaccines before kindergarten include those for measles, chicken pox, whooping cough and tetanus. Vaccines recommended before sixth grade include meningitis, whooping cough and HPV. In late high school, we recommend a booster dose of the meningitis vaccine for added protection.
Q: Are there any new vaccines or updates to the vaccination schedule that parents should be aware of this year?
Dr. Borman-Shoap: With fall and back-to-school comes the spread of respiratory viruses. Everyone should get an influenza vaccine each fall. The updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccine is available now and is recommended for everyone six months and older. We are seeing a rise in COVID cases already, so getting the flu shot and an updated COVID shot is recommended no matter their age.
Q: What are the potential risks of not vaccinating children?
Dr. Borman-Shoap: The risks of not vaccinating include missed school for children, missed work for parents and potentially a very serious illness for the child. For example, whooping cough is called the “100 days cough” because the cough is painful and long-lasting. Measles can be particularly serious and has no cure if it is caught. In some cases, measles can lead to permanent brain damage.
Q: What work are you doing at the U of M to advance the education of our future pediatricians?
Dr. Borman-Shoap: Much of my work at the U of M is educating the next generation of pediatricians in my role as the residency program director. We make sure our residents understand the science behind vaccination as well as understand the public health benefits, and the best way to counsel families about vaccines.
Emily Borman-Shoap, MD, is the vice chair for education, an associate professor and director of the residency program in the Department of Pediatrics at the U of M Medical School. She is also a general pediatrician with M Health Fairview. Dr. Borman-Shoap specializes in medical education, emphasizing competency-based medical education, innovation in curricular design and mentorship.
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The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. For more information about the U of M Medical School, please visit med.umn.edu.