the school year is starting which also means that the peak of the viral common cold flu and Co season is on its way as children gather indoors get closer together and the air becomes drier things like viruses bacteria and other infections are more likely to transfer from one person to another so here are some important things that consider to better protect your family number one remember other than washing hands and wearing mask in high-risk areas remember that everyone over the age of 6 months is recommended to get a flu vaccine and updated covid vaccine this fall and winter this year’s updated vaccines are here to help protect against the most commonly circulating strains and helping to avoid those miss school days from those unexpected fevers and also more importantly the risk of hospitalization and long-term complications you can get these vaccinations at the same time and ideally you want to get them between mid September and late October and this should help provide protection through the viral season which typically ends in April it’s also important to make sure that your child is updated on all vaccines recently there’s been an increase in things like measles outbreaks and prusis that causes whooping cough and these are very contagious illnesses that can lead to some serious complications and vaccinations are the best and safest way to prevent these infections which is why they’re part of the 12 recommended vaccines on the national immunization schedule for children vaccines help to protect our bodies and help our bodies to understand how to defend itself from disease without the risk of a full-blown infection and although that response might be a mild discomfort or fatigue for a couple of days for children especially these vaccines can result in protection for a lifetime if you’re curious about rules within your school state laws established vaccine requirements for schools and that can apply to public schools to private schools to colleges and universities your pediatrician should have a full list and make sure you speak to them to ensure that your child is on track for a safer future all right talk soon