Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

How to Get Your Kids Up to Date on Vaccinations

Image of Child wearing a mask getting the COVID-19 vaccine. A child gets a bandage from Senior Airman Kim Williams, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron aeromedical evacuation technician, after receiving a pediatric dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 28, 2022. When considering the options regarding vaccinating their child against any childhood disease, parents are advised to speak to a medical provider about their child’s medical conditions and any prior reactions to immunizations (Photo by: Airman 1st Class Anna Nolte, 18th Wing Public Affairs).

The COVID-19 pandemic drove the largest drop in childhood immunizations worldwide in 30 years, and health officials are urging parents to make sure their children are up to date on their shots as they return to more normal routines. 

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children have fallen behind on their immunizations in the Unites States and globally, increasing the risk for disease outbreaks,” said family nurse practitioner Donna Hoffman with the North Atlantic Region Vaccine Safety Hub-Defense Health Agency Immunization Healthcare Division (DHA-IHD).

“Staying up to date on childhood immunizations is essential to optimizing protection against diseases such as measles, hepatitis, pertussis (whooping cough), chicken pox, and tetanus,” she said.

The good news: “If your child has fallen behind on immunizations, they will not need to restart a vaccination series,” Hoffman emphasized.

For COVID-19 vaccinations, here are the current age requirements.

Why are Immunizations and Boosters Necessary?

Vaccines are crucial to keeping our children healthy and avoiding an illness that can impact their daily lives. 

“If we got the initial doses of a vaccine to protect us from a disease, it only makes sense to keep that protection at the best level possible through the recommended schedule for booster doses,” said Dr. David Hrncir, regional medical director, Central Region Vaccine Safety Hub, DHA-IHD.

Keeping our military kids up to date on vaccinations also benefits our readiness to serve.

“Adults can suffer from vaccine-preventable childhood diseases, just like kids,” Hrncir said. “Repeated exposure to your kids with childhood diseases can test your body’s ability to avoid becoming ill. While sick, your force protection readiness is degraded.”

How DHA Can Help

If you use your local military hospital or clinic, contact the immunizations staff for availability of vaccines and instructions on getting appointments or walk-in hours. Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE PlusA limited primary care program available at some military hospitals and clinics.TRICARE Plus at their local MTF have priority. All others may use the clinic on a space-available basis. 

For those who use the TRICARE network, review information on covered services for both military medical treatment facilities and immunization clinics by state, as well as information on how to obtain immunizations through a TRICARE-authorized provider or a network pharmacy.

State immunization laws may vary for public and private schools, but four common childhood vaccines are required for entry into kindergarten in almost every state: diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles-mumps-rubella, polio, and varicella (chicken pox).

Children who are traveling overseas or making permanent changes of station under military orders may require accelerated schedules or additional immunizations for diseases that are present in that area, Hoffman said. These diseases include Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, and typhoid.

Parents can check with their local immunization clinic or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel health site for additional information.

Resources

Health.mil, the official website for the Military Health System, maintains an immunization health care site providing information on childhood immunizations, including links to the CDC’s immunization schedules that describe the exact immunizations your child, tween, and teen should receive at different ages.

“It takes into account your child’s immune system’s maturity, and the risk of exposure to a particular disease in each age group,” Hoffman explained.

“For that reason, delaying immunization can leave your child unprotected which can have serious consequences not only for your child, but also for those who may be more vulnerable due to age or a weakened immune system.”

Vaccines can also protect tweens, teens, and college-age kids from common diseases, including meningitis, which can “spread easily in close communities like college dorms and social gatherings,” Hrncir said. The CDC adult schedule for immunizations is a good reference for your high-school and college-age kids 18 and older.

Additionally, children ages 11 to 12 can get the vaccine that prevents certain human papillomavirus-related adult cancers, Hrnicr said.

Other immunization resources include:

National Immunization Awareness Month
MHS’ Back-to-School Toolkit
Getting Your Baby Vaccinated
Why Vaccines are Important
Keeping Vaccination Records and Why

Military parents can contact the DHA’s 24/7 Immunization Healthcare Support Center at 1-877-GETVACC (1-877-438-8222) for assistance.

 

You also may be interested in...

Letter to the Editor: Military Health System Exceeded Healthy People 2020 Goal for Rotavirus Vaccination

Article
3/1/2023
Logo800x480MSMR

Letter to the Editor commenting on November 2033 (volume 29 issue 11) MSMR Brief Report, "Pediatric Vaccine Completion and Compliance Among Infants Born to Active Duty Service Members, 2006-2016"

Flu Season’s Here: You Still Can Get Your Flu Shot for Protection

Article
12/12/2022
Flu Week Infographic

It’s not too late to get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19.

Time to Get Your Flu Shot and Your COVID-19 Booster, Too

Article
10/14/2022
Senior MHS officials and medics from the Pentagon stand together Oct. 13 after receiving their flu shots and bivalent COVID-19 boosters.."

It's flu shot time. Get your COVID-19 booster at the same time.

Prevent the Spread of Influenza and COVID-19 Viruses Within Your Community

Article
10/11/2022
A person getting an injection on their arm.

As families return from summer vacation and students return to school, the influenza (flu) season is approaching while the COVID-19 pandemic is still on-going.

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available for 12 to 17 Year-Olds

Article
8/30/2022
Air Force Staff. Sgt. fills a syringe with a COVID-19 vaccine at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine is Available for Those 12 Years' Old and Above

New COVID-19 Boosters Against Subvariants Coming Soon

Article
8/29/2022
Marine on right gets a COVID-19 booster vaccination from a nursing student on his left.

Brooklyn Marine gets COVID-19 booster vaccination.

Pandemic Spotlights the Vital Role of Military Lab Workers

Article
5/2/2022
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ashley Solomon, 18th Medical Support Squadron NCO in charge of microbiology, unloads blood samples from a centrifuge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 31, 2019. (Photo: Tech. Sgt. Matthew B. Fredericks, U.S. Air Force)

MHS clinical labs produce results.

Helping Your Child to Cope with Grief and Losses Related to COVID-19

Article
4/28/2022
Shirley Lanham Elementary School students perform Taiko drumming during a Month of the Military Child celebration aboard the Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, April 6, 2022. (Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ange-Olivier Clement, Naval Air Facility Atsugi)

Many military children have lost loved ones to COVID-19. How parents can help with the grief.

How to Help Military Children Reconnect After Two Years of the Pandemic

Article
4/25/2022
Airman 1st Class Rocio Romo, Space Launch Delta 30 public affairs specialist, and her son pose for a photo at Cocheo Park on Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, March 25, 2022. During the month of April, we celebrate Month of the Military Child to highlight the sacrifices military children make on the home front while their parents serve the United States. (Photo: Airman Kadielle Shaw, Space Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs)

How parents can help children stressed by more than two years of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Booster Effectiveness Remained High During Omicron Surge

Article
4/18/2022
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Mary Ashcraft, assigned to the combat ship USS Tulsa, administers a COVID-19 vaccine booster to Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class Anthony Johnson Jan. 10, 2022, at Apra Harbor, Guam. (Photo: Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 1st Class Devin M. Langer, Command Destroyer Squadron 7)

Two new studies of active-duty service members show COVID-19 booster vaccines are effective, but uptake rates in the military community lagged behind the civilian population.

8 Tips to Help Kids Adjust to Change during the New Pandemic Phase

Article
4/15/2022
A parent comforts his child while she receives a pediatric dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 28, 2022. (Photo: Airman 1st Class Anna Nolte, 18th Wing Public Affairs)

Parents should prepare their kids for the new normal of the ongoing pandemic, recognizing that the status of the disease can change quickly as new variants of COVID-19 emerge.

Dr. Jay Montgomery Details Importance of the Immunization Healthcare Division

Article
4/8/2022
Dr. Jay Montgomery is a medical director for DHA’s Immunization Healthcare Division. In addition to being a clinician and educator, he also volunteers with Wounded Warriors to design, build and fly radio controlled helicopters. (Courtesy Photo)

Dr. Jay Montgomery is a medical director for the Defense Health Agency’s Immunization Healthcare Division’s North Atlantic Region Vaccine Safety Hub. In his role, Montgomery helps address vaccine and immunization questions and concerns.

How COVID-19 Made the Military Medical Community Stronger

Article
3/21/2022
Image of a service member being treated

Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic has made the military medical community stronger and will help when confronting the next crisis, whether that’s another pandemic, a new conflict or natural disaster

COVID-19 Responses Underscore Importance of Patient Safety

Article
3/14/2022
Every day, patient safety is one of the top priorities for the Defense Health Agency. Patient safety means providing ready, reliable care to service members, veterans, and dependents no matter the circumstances. (Photo: Defense Health Agency)

Patient safety is a topmost concern of MHS, and Patient Safety Awareness Week 2022 focuses on Ready, Reliable Care.

Answering Your Questions About COVID-19 Testing

Article
2/25/2022
Military personnel performing a COVID-19 Test

COVID-19 continues to spread, now as the Omicron variant. Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect you and your family from getting seriously ill, getting hospitalized, or dying. You should also make sure you’re up to date with your vaccines. Testing is another important step you can take to protect yourself and others.

Page 1 of 9 , showing items 1 - 15
First < 1 2 3 4 5  ... > Last 
Refine your search
Last Updated: August 25, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery