Ohio Doctors Urge Parents to Prioritize Vaccination as Classes Begin
As Ohio families prepare for back-to-school season, health officials are reminding parents that this is also the time to prioritize vaccines. Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, said vaccination rates among children in Ohio have dropped in recent years, reflecting a concerning national trend.
According to the CDC, kindergarten vaccination coverage fell again in the 2024–25 school year, with exemptions nearly doubling compared to just four years ago.
Required vaccines for kindergarten entry in Ohio include measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), DTaP, polio, varicella, and hepatitis B. In addition, both the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend yearly flu shots, while the AAP also advises healthy children to receive a COVID vaccine.
Pediatric infectious disease expert Dr. Amy Edwards warns that vaccine hesitancy, once a slow-moving issue, has accelerated since the COVID pandemic, further fueled by misinformation.
Despite common misconceptions, she notes pediatricians do not profit from administering vaccines, and many practices no longer stock the COVID vaccine due to cost and storage limitations. Parents are encouraged to seek vaccines through local health departments or pharmacies if needed.
Every child has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the right to life, survival and development, and the right to protection from preventable diseases. Ensuring access to safe and effective vaccines is part of honoring those rights and safeguarding the well-being of God’s precious children.
