The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is urging families to ensure their children are up to date on all required vaccinations as the new school year approaches. The recommendation comes as part of National Immunization Awareness Month in August, with officials emphasizing the role vaccines play in protecting students and communities from serious illnesses.
According to CDPH, vaccination helps prevent the spread of diseases, reduces hospitalizations, saves lives, and allows children to stay in school and participate in activities.
Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, stated: “When our youngest Californians are healthy and able to participate in learning and doing the things they love, the future of California is brighter. As a parent and a pediatrician, I am grateful for and confident in the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, which have transformed the leading causes of childhood deaths away from infectious diseases. CDPH remains committed to ensuring all California families have access to safe and effective vaccines, and the information they need to understand that vaccine recommendations are based on credible, transparent, and science-based evidence.”
Measles cases across the United States have reached their highest level since 2000 as of July 2025. Most reported cases involved unvaccinated individuals; over 90% were not vaccinated. More than one in ten infected people required hospitalization—some admitted to intensive care units—and three people died this year from measles.
In California, more than 95% of kindergarteners continue to receive coverage for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This rate has been maintained for nearly a decade, meeting levels needed to prevent community spread.
State law requires students attending public or private schools or licensed childcare centers to receive age-specific immunizations. Schools must enforce these requirements by keeping immunization records for all enrolled children and reporting immunization status data to CDPH.
Families seeking more information can visit CDPH’s Shots for School (https://www.shotsforschool.org/) or Don’t Wait – Vaccinate! (https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/dont-wait-vaccinate.aspx) webpages for details on immunization laws and requirements. Additional resources include speaking with healthcare providers or local health departments about where to get vaccinated. Most health plans cover recommended vaccines at no out-of-pocket cost; uninsured children may qualify for free vaccines through programs such as Vaccines for Children (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html).
