Image description: A doctor in a white coat high-fives a smiling child sitting on their parent’s lap in a clinic exam room.
Is your family ready for the academic year? Talk to your pediatrician or school nurse about what health guidelines your child’s school follows for classroom and sports participation in Ohio and Kentucky.
Hamilton County Public Health, Cincinnati Health Department and Northern Kentucky Health Department all recommend talking with your family’s pediatrician and making a plan for routine childhood immunizations. The three local public health departments say that ensuring that your child is fully vaccinated can keep them healthy and prevent measles and other deadly diseases from spreading throughout our communities.
Learn more about routine vaccines for children below, and read on for tips to support your child’s academic, physical and mental success.
Which routine childhood immunizations does my child need in Ohio or Kentucky?
Health departments in Hamilton County, throughout Ohio, and in nearby states have guidelines in place that help keep kids healthy at school and at home. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees that routine childhood immunizations are vital to both individual and public health, as vaccination programs can prevent or reduce severe outbreaks of preventable diseases.
“Every parent wants what’s best for their child, and every pediatrician wants the same for their young patients,” says Dr. Stephen Feagins, medical director at Hamilton County Public Health. “Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children are much more susceptible to severe illness, so we want to work together to keep our region’s kids safe and healthy.”
For most school-age children, Ohio’s and Kentucky’s state health departments typically require up-to-date vaccines for children for the following diseases:
- measles
- pertussis (whooping cough)
- polio
- hepatitis
- diphtheria
- tetanus
- meningococcal
- mumps
- rubella
- varicella
Ohio’s and Kentucky’s childhood immunization requirements may vary based on location, age, number of doses, and timing, so families should confirm immunization schedules with their trusted pediatrician, school nurse or health department.
For more information, review Ohio’s immunization requirements for school-age children and Kentucky’s immunization requirements for school-age children.
Why is the measles (MMR) vaccine so important in Ohio and Kentucky?
Measles can cause significant respiratory and neurological complications or even death, particularly for children. There is no cure for measles, though there are ways to slightly ease symptoms.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It spreads through air droplets, like when someone coughs or sneezes. Measles can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area.
An infected person can spread measles to others even before knowing they have the disease. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch an infected surface and then then touch their eyes, nose or mouth, they can become infected with measles.
Measles has been increasing in both Ohio and Kentucky in recent years, with both states experiencing outbreaks so far in 2026. Through July 24, 2026, there already have been at least 2,318 confirmed measles infections in the United States — the highest annual total in 35 years.
Previously, measles had been eliminated in the United States thanks to widespread use of highly effective vaccines. But now, doctors are worried about continued measles outbreaks because of steadily declining childhood vaccination rates.
The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine safely and effectively offers long-term immunity and prevents measles infections. The two-dose vaccine series is 97% effective at preventing measles, while one dose is 93% effective. For full lifelong immunity, pediatricians recommend two doses of the vaccine for children.
“Vaccines save lives. Because they’ve worked so well for so long, it’s easy to forget how much suffering diseases like measles once caused,” says Dr. Grant Mussman, health commissioner at Cincinnati Health Department. “Keeping your child’s vaccinations up to date is one of the best ways to protect their health and help keep the people around them healthy, too.”
Are vaccines and childhood immunizations safe for children in Ohio and Kentucky?
What else can I do to ensure my kids are healthy at school?
Public health officials at Hamilton County Public Health, Cincinnati Health Department and Northern Kentucky Health Department say that in addition to routine childhood immunizations, there’s plenty that parents can do to keep students healthy at school. Try the following as your child heads to class:
- Schedule family check-ups, immunizations, sports physicals and discussions with your pediatrician.
- Ask your pediatrician if they recommend new vision exams or hearing screenings.
- Gather medical documents, prescription lists, birth certificates, action plans and emergency contact information for your school’s awareness and records.
- Remind children (and adults!) to frequently wash their hands and cover their coughs to prevent spreading germs that cause illness. Consider adding hand sanitizer and tissues to their backpack, lunch bag and school-supply box.
- Establish healthy school-year routines at home that include a consistent sleep schedule, nutritious meals, daily hygiene habits and regular exercise.
- Limit recreational screen time for phones, tablets and computers, and consider designating screen-free areas of your home.
- Have regular check-in conversations to learn about persistent anxiety or social stress, especially if your child is changing schools or experiencing other life transitions.
Need a copy of your child’s birth certificate for school, sports or community activities? Hamilton County Public Health can provide certified birth certificates on individuals who were born in Ohio. To order a birth certificate, visit our office at 1701 Patricia McCollum Way, complete a birth certificate request form, or call our customer service team at 513-946-7800.
Date published: 8/10/2026