Are Vaccines on Your Back-to-School/University Checklist?

Summer is over and school is back in session. As the parents of three young adults, my wife and I have years of experience getting our kids ready to go back to school with lists that have evolved from primary school, to secondary school, up to and including university. Glue sticks – check. Pencils - check. Backpack in a cool colour - check. Vaccines…

As a doctor and the Chief Medical Officer of GSK Vaccines, it should come as no surprise that this list has always included a check on their vaccination status, which was sometimes also required by the primary schools.  However, I have a confession to make - the older my children have gotten, the harder it has become to ensure that these vaccinations take place. 

As parents, we try our best to set children up for fulfilled lives. We share our experiences with them (to varying degrees of success), provide them with a solid education, and try to lead by example when it comes to healthy habits. In our family, this includes vaccination. Of course, as they grow older, the time comes to step back, let them become more independent, and trust them to do what is right. This is especially so when they attend colleges and universities far from home, as is the case with my three. But, at the start of every school year, I follow up to ensure that they have received the vaccinations appropriate for their age and health. I admit that it takes more than one call, SMS, or email, and I am still hunting down my oldest to get his second shot of the Meningitis B vaccine.

But, how many other parents are doing the same?

New independent research for GSK in the UK shows that when it comes to one disease in particular, meningitis, there is a need for greater awareness about both the early signs and symptoms of meningitis, which is of crucial importance for a disease that, while uncommon, can kill within 24 hours. And, while over two thirds of the research respondents were aware that meningitis can help be prevented through vaccination, 40 percent were not aware that there is more than one vaccine necessary to help protect a child against the different strains of Meningitis. One vaccine against what is currently the most common strain in the UK, Meningitis B, and a second one against four less common strains, Meningitis ACWY.

Now, getting back to my question about whether or not parents are following up on the vaccination status of their grown children: the same research revealed that when preparing for school or university, a lower priority is given to vaccinations the older the child gets.

What can be done to improve this situation?

• As parents, we can keep ourselves well informed on what vaccines are available for our children, of all ages, and take the time to discuss this with our children and their healthcare provider (the NHS, CDC, ECDC, and of course, your family doctor are a great place to find more information).
• As individuals, we can adopt a life-course approach to immunisation and lead by example, so that we help protect ourselves, our family, and those around us from vaccine-preventable disease.
• Finally, set yourself an annual reminder to ensure your children of every age are keeping their vaccinations up to date.

So, talk to your health care professional to understand what appropriate vaccines are available for your children, for you, and especially for those grown children.