By Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
LINCOLN, Neb. – Early April is an exciting time for Nebraska families as kindergarten registration gets underway, marking an important milestone for young children. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging parents to ensure their children are ready for both school and upcoming popular summer sporting events that will bring an increased number of visitors to our state and region. This includes checking that all routine vaccinations are up to date, helping protect against preventable diseases such as chickenpox, measles, mumps and whooping cough (pertussis), which continue to pose risks to children and the broader community.
“Nebraska and the surrounding region are expecting a significant increase in visitors as people travel to and from major summer sporting events like the College World Series in Omaha and the FIFA World Cup in Kansas City. With that added movement comes a higher risk of spreading preventable illnesses,” said DHHS Chief Medical Officer Timothy Tesmer. “I strongly encourage all residents to stay up to date on their vaccinations, not just to protect themselves, but to safeguard their families, neighbors and the broader community.”
A resource for Nebraskans is the Nebraska State Immunization Information System (NESIIS). Nebraskans whose primary care providers use NESIIS can securely download their personal (or child’s) immunization information from NESIIS to their Android or iOS mobile device. This makes sharing immunization records from NESIIS quick and easy with healthcare providers, schools, or other organizations. For more information, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Immunization-Information-System.aspx or call 888-433-2510.
“Using NESIIS is as simple as scanning the QR code and signing in to have instant access to immunization records on a phone or tablet,” said Tesmer. “Infants and young children’s immune systems are not fully developed, which means they are more vulnerable to infection and more likely to experience serious illness. Protecting our children by ensuring they are up to date on their routine vaccinations is a simple and effective way to ensure our communities remain healthy and thrive.”
Another resource for Nebraskans is the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, a federally funded and state-operated vaccine supply program. The VFC program offers vaccines for eligible children for free or at reduced cost. For information regarding VFC eligibility or to find a provider, please visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/VFC-Program.aspx or call 800-798-1696.
If you have questions about which immunizations your child needs, contact your health provider or visit https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/AAP-Immunization-Schedule.pdf.