As families get ready to send children back to school, the Iowa Department of Public Health is reminding people to schedule annual physicals and back-to-school immunizations. State Epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Pedati says that while daily activities have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, people should maintain routine health care including keeping children and communities safe from vaccine-preventable diseases.

According to the IDPH, well-child visits have declined significantly since the start of the pandemic, and with that there’s been a delay in required and recommended immunizations. IDPH states there was a 55.5% decrease in the administration of non-influenza vaccines in children ages 4-18 years during March and April when comparing the months to the same time period in 2019. April alone had a 75% decrease from the previous year.

Up-to-date vaccinations are required for school entry. Parents should check with their child’s health care provider to make sure required vaccines are administered before classes resume.