Immunizations protect young children from dangerous diseases that can have lasting effects on a child’s growth and development. Babies and young children have an especially high risk of complications from many diseases that immunizations can prevent.

Some preventable diseases are common in the U.S., like whooping cough and flu. Others are rare here, but not in other countries, like diphtheria. When children and families travel to other countries or meet someone who has traveled outside the U.S., they risk getting some of these diseases. Immunization helps protect children and families against preventable illness.

Performance Standard 45 CFR §1302.15 requires programs to comply with state immunization enrollment and attendance requirements (with the exception for homeless children described in §1302.16(c)(1)). As part of each child’s health care, 45 CFR §1302.42(b)(1) requires programs to document whether a child is up to date on immunizations. Following the immunizations required for enrollment and attendance helps protect children early in life before they are exposed to serious diseases.

Tips and Strategies for Supporting Immunizations

• Be aware of your state’s requirements for immunization waivers or exemption policies.
• Create a policy for immunizations and tell families what it is.
• Encourage families to get all recommended doses. Help them overcome barriers to staying on track with recommendations.
• Remind families about immunizations that are needed and are coming up.
• Prepare families on how to take care of their child after they get a vaccine.
• Help families who fall behind on their immunization schedule. Refer to CDC’s Catch-up Immunization Schedule.
• Set up a system and work with families to keep a record of their child’s immunizations.
• Track the immunizations of all enrolled children and identify when children need their next immunizations or boosters.