HOUSTON – (Aug. 9, 2010) – With school starting this month, parents may be in a frenzy shopping for new school clothes and school supplies, but vaccine experts from Texas Children's Hospital are reminding parents to make vaccines a top priority before sending their children back to school.

Adhering to the vaccine schedule as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the local school district, is essential to keeping children healthy, in school and protected from illnesses that are prevalent, yet vaccine-preventable.

Periodic outbreaks, such as the recent pertussis (whooping cough) epidemic in California, are a reminder that if children are not vaccinated, then the disease can quickly spread throughout the community. Among public health experts, schools are long believed to be a primary source for the spread of infectious diseases. With children being in close proximity to each other and frequently sharing supplies and food, vaccines can prevent the spread of germs and diseases that often linger in schools.

"We are reminding parents that harmful diseases still exist, vaccines are safe and vaccines are the best way to protect children against infectious diseases," said Dr. Carol Baker executive director for the Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children's and the chair of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. "By immunizing school-aged children, we are not only protecting them, we are also increasing the collective immunity for the entire community. The more people we have vaccinated, the less likely it is for epidemics or outbreaks to occur."

With widespread misinformation about vaccines, the attention has shifted away from the life-threatening diseases they prevent, to the vaccines themselves. To increase awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases, Texas Children's has published the book, "Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story," which features 17 families who share their story about how an infectious disease affected them.

For more information about vaccines and the book "Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story," which is available in English and Spanish, visit vaccine.texaschildrens.org.

Parents also can prepare for a healthy school year by ensuring their child has healthy sleeping habits, eats a nutritious breakfast and lunch, and is mentally prepared to go back to school.

Get more back to school tips.

About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children's is ranked in the top 10 best children's hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. Texas Children's also operates the nation's largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children's has embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes a neurological research institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing on high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. Get the latest Texas Children's news on Twitter: www.twitter.com/texaschildrens.