Health Officials Push Vaccines at Back-to-School Time

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is focusing on the importance of routine vaccines during National Awareness Month in August as students return to school this fall.

Since California’s immunization rates for kindergarten students remain higher than the national average, CDPH emphasized that vaccination prevents the spread of serious illnesses, reduces hospitalizations, saves lives, and helps keep kids in school.

“When our youngest Californians are healthy and able to participate in learning and doing the things they love, the future of California is brighter,” said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH director and state public health officer. “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.”

Due to large outbreaks in other states, the number of measles cases in the U.S. as of July 2025 are already higher than any year since 2000—when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease eliminated in the U.S. As of July 23, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 92% of measles cases are in the unvaccinated or those with unknown vaccination status. The CDC has confirmed three deaths from measles in the U.S. so far this year.

California continues to report more than 95% coverage among kindergarteners for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. California law requires students to receive age-specific immunizations to attend public and private schools, as well as licensed childcare centers. Schools and licensed childcare centers are required to enforce immunization requirements, maintain immunization records of all children enrolled, and report children’s immunization status to CDPH.