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Routine Immunizations Catch Up Information

We understand how the pandemic impacted all of our lives over the past two years and may have caused you to delay doctor visits for immunizations. Indiana school children going into kindergarten, sixth grade, and 12th grade are required to receive age-specific immunizations prior to school starting. Children will be going back to school soon, so we encourage you to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to catch up on required immunizations (Espanol).

Vaccines help keep your child healthy, protect other students, and have even put an end to some diseases. So, before school begins, remember to Start Smart! Schedule your child’s appointment today and make routine immunizations part of your back-to-school checklist.

There are dozens of immunization clinics in Indiana that provide routine vaccinations for babies, children and teens. The Routine Immunizations Catch Up Map shows where these clinics are, when they are open, and how to schedule an appointment. Many clinics allow walk-ins so you don’t need an appointment.

Click an icon on the map below for specific vaccination site information.

About Immunizations

Immunization, also called vaccination, is a highly effective, safe and easy way to help keep your family healthy. Immunity is the body’s way of preventing disease. Vaccines reduce your child’s risk of infection by working with the body’s natural defenses to help safely develop protection against disease.

Take this quick quiz to see which vaccinations are recommended for your child based on their age, health conditions and environment.

See the full list of recommended vaccinations for babies and children from birth to 6 years old. See the full list of recommended vaccinations for children and teens age 7 to 18.

Safety and Efficacy of Immunizations

Vaccines use small amounts of antigens to help your child’s immune system recognize and learn to fight serious diseases. Antigens are parts of germs that cause the body’s immune system to go to work. Vaccines are tested to ensure they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.

Vaccines, like medicine, can have some side effects. But most people who get vaccinated have mild or no side effects. The most common side effects may include fever, tiredness, body aches, and redness, swelling, and tenderness at the site where the shot was given. Mild reactions usually go away on their own within a few days. Serious, long lasting side effects are extremely rare. If you have questions or concerns about a vaccine, talk with your child’s doctor or a healthcare provider at an immunization clinic. Learn about the safety of each recommended vaccine.

Before a new vaccine is ever given to people, extensive lab testing is done. Once testing in people begins, it can sometimes take years before clinical studies are complete and the vaccine is licensed. Once a vaccine is licensed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other federal agencies routinely monitor its use and investigate any potential safety concerns.

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