Back-to-school commercials are flooding our television, and the back corner of Target is stocked with notebooks, glue sticks, and lunch boxes. It’s sad to say, but we’re already somehow on the fast track to fall — and a new school year.
And soon, our Stella will be starting kindergarten. Excuse me while I spend the next few weeks trying to fathom how quickly this day snuck up on us. It feels like I’ve been mentally preparing for this day for the last couple of years, ever since the term “kindergarten roundup” first entered my parental orbit.
Earlier this year, we registered Stella for kindergarten, and signed up our family to attend kindergarten roundup in the spring.
Along with filling out a questionnaire about her skill levels and personality, we also needed to make sure we brought some very important pieces of documentation:
- Proof of residency (in the form of a utility bill, for example)
- Proof of birth (an original birth certificate)
- Proof of vaccinations
Fortunately for us, Stella’s early spring birthday meant that we were already scheduled for her annual wellness checkup prior to roundup. We were able to make sure Stella was up-to-date on her vaccinations and request the paperwork her school would need from us. I Vaccinate provides several helpful resources for immunization schedules and Michigan school requirements, based on information from the CDC and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Making sure our daughters are up-to-date on their vaccinations is something that my husband and I agree is one of the most important things we can do as parents. Not just for their health, but also for the health of others.
I remember when I was learning to drive as a teenager; I used to tell my parents that I would be safe, keep my eyes on the road, and take all of the proper precautions. You know what my dad always said to me?
“I’m not worried about you on the road. I’m worried about the other people on the road.”
It’s a lesson that stuck with me from the moment I got my driver’s license. I learned in that moment that I could do everything right to keep myself and others safe, but the way someone else drives is just as important to my safety on the road.
When I became a mom, I realized how much that particular lesson has applied to many different parts of life. The best I can do as a mom is to give our daughters the tools to succeed, whether that is helping to teach them life and social skills or to keep them healthy. Vaccinations are a big part of that equation.
But ultimately, it is important for our communities to share the common goal to keep our children safe.
According to the CDC, during the 2016-17 school year, Michigan had the 11th highest non-medical exemption rate in the nation for kindergarteners, with 3.5 percent of parents simply choosing not to immunize their children.
While it is our personal choice to vaccinate our children, as it is each family’s personal choice, there are many reasons why having children up-to-date helps a community as a whole. Ultimately, a family’s personal decision can have an impact on the health of all children within a community.
From I Vaccinate:
The vaccinated community helps to protect those who are not vaccinated, a concept known as “herd immunity” or “community immunity.” When 90–95 percent of a community is protected, it is nearly impossible for a vaccine-preventable disease to spread.
One of the things I most appreciate as a parent is the amount of helpful resources available online thanks to I Vaccinate, particularly their FAQ section. Parents have plenty of questions about all sorts of topics. Heck, I think I use Google on an almost-daily basis when things pop up. But the truth is that there are plenty of things one can find on the internet that aren’t based on medical research and facts.
My first baby is ready to start a very big adventure, and I’m happy and confident that we’ve done our best to have her be prepared as possible. It’s the least we can do for her, and for our community.
I have partnered with I Vaccinate to share the reasons why I believe vaccinating my children is so important. This content is sponsored, but thoughts and opinions are my own.
Visit the I Vaccinate website for helpful resources and answers to all of your vaccination questions.
Absolutely, Stephanie! Seems like so many parents are concerned only for their own child. They would rather see those who are immune compromised come down with a deadly disease then take the miniscule risk of their own child having a reaction to a vaccine that benefits the entire community
. Have they ever heard of all the epidemics that occurred before vaccines were discovered? My great grandparents lost five of seven children in less than two months. Came home from one funeral to find two more gone. Time to think about the safety of others. Be glad that most parents still do vaccinate and, in so doing, protect even the health of those who refuse to do their share in preventing epidemics.