It's Time to Think About Vaccinations — for Your Child and Yourself

As we approach the new school year, it’s important to talk about how critical it is to stay current with your child’s vaccines. In North Carolina, public schools require that children be vaccinated in order to attend school, except if they have a medical or religious exemption.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), North Carolina law requires that children get certain vaccinations, depending on their age — not just to protect themselves from serious illnesses like measles and diphtheria, but to protect others as well.

This public health aspect of immunization has been highlighted recently as we have seen the alarming spread of measles across our country, an easily preventable illness if one is vaccinated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were a total of 1,288 confirmed measles cases thus far in 2025, that were reported by 39 jurisdictions which include states in the South, Midwest, Southwest, East Coast, and West Coast, as of July 8th. We also know that 88% of the confirmed cases are related to 27 outbreaks. Tragically, three deaths have resulted from these outbreaks.

It’s important not to minimize the danger that measles poses — it’s not a minor illness. It’s an extremely contagious airborne virus that’s accompanied by symptoms such as a blotchy rash on the face and body, fever, dry cough, watery eyes, and conjunctivitis. Measles is particularly dangerous for children younger than five and anyone with a compromised immune system.

This is just one example of an illness that can be prevented by getting vaccinated, but there are numerous others, including hepatitis B, polio, DTaP (diphtheria tetanus, and pertussis — otherwise known as whooping cough), and more. By accessing the NCDHHS website, you can see the vaccination schedules for all age groups of children. Flu and current COVID-19 shots are also critical for everyone from babies on up.

Older children should eventually get the HPV vaccine, which protects against the human papillomavirus, which is associated with cervical and other cancers.

I should add that children and teens aren’t the only ones who we should be concerned about vaccines. Middle-aged adults should stay on top of getting their boosters, such as hepatitis B, DTaP, influenza, and COVID-19 vaccines. Individuals who are 50 years or older should get the shingles vaccine, and the pneumococcal vaccine, while the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is recommended for people 75 years and older or those who are 65-74 years but live with underlying health conditions. The pneumococcal vaccine may also be indicated for those ages 19-49 years with certain chronic medical conditions or behavioral risk factors. Additionally,  some adults may need to get the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine booster as well, especially if they received their MMR vaccine between the years 1963 and 1967.

There’s no question that the advent of vaccines has saved many lives. In fact, the May 25, 2024 issue of The Lancet included an article that talked about the benefits of vaccines for global health over a 50-year time span, from 1974 to 2024. During this period, vaccination prevented an astounding 154 million deaths worldwide, both saving and extending lives.

Though vaccines have become a controversial issue, they are proven, miraculous health tools that protect everyone from dreaded diseases. They are safe, as rigorous lab testing and clinical studies are performed before a new vaccine is ready to be administered to people, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CDC, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as other federal agencies continuously track and investigate any safety issues that arise.

By vaccinating your child and yourself, you’re doing your part to protect your community and the more vulnerable, such as the elderly and people living with chronic illnesses. I urge you to talk to your family about what vaccinations each member is due to get. Consult with your primary care physician and pediatrician regarding your family’s vaccination needs, and schedule them now.

Michele Pilon, MS, BSN, RN, NE-BC, is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Transylvania Regional Hospital. Her diverse professional experience includes service as a bedside nurse and over a decade as a leader at healthcare institutions in Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina. Ms. Pilon earned a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Ohio’s University of Akron and a Masters in Health Services Administration from the University of St. Francis in Illinois; she is also a Board-Certified Nursing Executive.