HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — As students prepare to head back to school, Alabama Department of Public Health Medical Officer Dr. Wes Stubblefield, has a word of advice -- stay up-to-date on vaccinations.
"The CDC through its Advisory Council on immunization practice, recommends vaccines...for all people in the United States," Dr. Stubblefield said.
Dr. Stubblefield believes summertime is always a great time to have a visit with your health care providers, "especially if you haven't had it sort of that normal what we would call the checkup in the last year."
He says check-up visits for students are important at any age, "...whether they're going into kindergarten or pre-k or all the way to a senior in high school or even to coming into college."
Sparkman High School Freshman Isaac Cylar says he's looking forward to going back to school, more specifically, "I've been looking forward to the band because I play percussion."
Cylar adds that he hasn't really given vaccinations too much thought for this school year as of yet, "...because I've already got the vaccine twice, but I feel like it is something important, like something you should do, especially with how things might change this school year."
ADPH recommends that ages 6-months and up have the COVID-19 shot, ages 9 and up have an HPV shot, and that all ages have a flu shot.
For a complete list of vaccinations for each age group visit their website here.