MDAFP-MACHO: Back to School Vaccinations

Maryland’s children are back at school, and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and local health departments are committed to making back to school vaccinations accessible for all children, to ensure they have a healthy year.

“Just like the school supplies in your shopping cart, vaccines are an investment in our kids’ future. While germs tend to spread in the fall, vaccines protect kids from severe illness, keeping our students in school and ready to learn," said Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani.

In the 2025-2026 school year, more than 96% of kindergarten students in Maryland received required vaccines. Maryland has consistently reported high vaccination rates and has maintained some of the lowest rates of vaccine-preventable illness and outbreaks in the country.

Maryland’s Family Practitioners play an important role in making sure our children and communities get the vaccines they need. Local Health Departments (LHDs) can partner with local providers to ensure that vaccines are available and convenient for families.

Many LHDs offer vaccination clinics in the summer and early fall to help parents make sure their children have all the required vaccinations. Most clinics focus on children who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children program (VFC). VFC is a federally funded entitlement program, administered by the Maryland Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of an inability to pay.

To be eligible for the VFC program, children who are 18 years of age or younger must also meet one of the following criteria: be a Maryland Medicaid recipient, have no health insurance, be underinsured (health insurance does not cover vaccines) and/or be American Indian/Alaskan Native.

If you are interested in becoming a VFC provider, please review MDH’s New VFC Enrollment Instructions for more information.

To learn more about VFC education and training, including how to complete the required training, please click here.

To reduce confusion with ongoing federal changes to vaccine recommendations, Maryland enacted the Vax Act. Going into effect on July 1, 2026, the Vax Act is designed to improve vaccine accessibility for Marylanders of all ages by allowing the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health to set official state recommendations for immunizations, screening and preventive services for Marylanders. This new authority allows the Secretary to consider guidance published by authoritative medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists when making recommendations. The Vax Act also allows pharmacists to administer vaccines to community members regardless of their insurance status.

Maryland’s vaccine recommendations for children

Though back to school vaccination efforts focus on vaccines for children, adults need vaccines, too. The new Maryland Vaccine Program (MVP), a state-funded program, provides free vaccines for uninsured and underinsured adults. All LHDs and many FQHCs offer the MVP program.

The MVP program offers vaccines recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Strategies for Assuring Parents who are Concerned About Vaccinating their Child

Considering the ongoing changes to vaccine recommendations and misinformation regarding vaccine safety, many parents may be feeling cautious regarding back-to-school vaccinations. Listening to parents’ concerns and acknowledging them in a non-confrontational manner facilitates trust and can increase their willingness to consider vaccination. To empower parents with the necessary tools to make informed health decisions for themselves and their children, consider the following methods of communication recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Researchers have found that parents are more likely to accept vaccines when their provider gives a presumptive recommendations (i.e. “Today your child is due for two vaccines/ We will be giving MMR and Varicella) rather than a participatory recommendation (i.e. Do you want to vaccinate your child today?).

• Be open about what is known about immunizations and what is not known. Personalize the information provided to parents to match their health literacy level, cultural beliefs, and vaccine concerns.

• To correct any falsehoods about vaccine messaging, consider using “truth sandwich” messaging. The wrong information should be sandwiched between two pieces of correct information. Truth sandwich messaging works because our brains remember what we hear first and last. Here’s an example: “Parents and doctors agree that kids deserve to be safe and healthy (correct information). Anyone holding up one study or statistic to undermine the advice of nearly all pediatricians is painting a misleading picture (wrong information). Instead, let's support healthy communities by vaccinating children to help their bodies recognize and resist disease (correct information).”

• Stress that vaccination is the most effective way to equip their child’s immune system so children can stay healthy and thrive

Preparing for the Upcoming Respiratory Season

Even though the back-to-school season just started, it is never too early to prepare for the upcoming respiratory virus season. Staying up to date with all recommended vaccines, practicing good hand hygiene, and taking steps for cleaner air (i.e. gathering outdoors, opening windows, wearing a mask, improving indoor air quality via HVAC or portable air filters) are all important strategies to help prevent common respiratory illnesses.

COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines are not required for students to attend school, however, MDH strongly encourages children to stay up to date on all vaccines recommended for them. Please visit MDH’s Respiratory Virus Prevention webpage for more information.

Staying Connected to State Vaccine Resources

For best practice, please refer to the following links to resources regarding vaccinations:

• Maryland Department of Health’s Back to School Vaccines Webpage

• 2026-2027 Maryland Preschool and Grades K-12 Schools Required Immunizations

• 2026-2027 Age-Appropriate Immunization Requirements for Children Enrolled in Maryland Childcare Programs

Your role as family practitioners is essential in preserving the health of our communities. Local health departments serve as a great partner in ensuring that you are equipped with the tools and resources needed to continue to protect communities from preventable illness and disease.