Back to school means pencils, backpacks, getting back on a schedule and for many students, vaccines.

By law, students in Michigan need to be up to date or have a waiver.

In today’s MedWatch, Michelle Dunaway tells us about an upcoming event that may make this part of back to school easier.

“I obviously want to protect my children, that’s my number one goal.”

Whether it’s a bike helmet or a vaccine, Christi Nowak will know she did her best to keep her girls safe and healthy.

“They’re up to date, we follow the recommended schedule and every time we visit our pediatrician we know what’s coming up and then we get those immunizations,” says Christi.

Not just for her own girls, but their friends and the community.

“I feel it’s very important that all children are immunized, because it protects all of us. It’s something we should all feel the responsibility to do, because there are children who are too young to be immunized, and then there’s the compromised immune systems that really benefit from herd immunity,” explains Christi.

By making sure your family is vaccinated, you’re also protecting the more vulnerable.

“Vaccinations are some of the safest, most effective ways of preventing disease, and if most of the community is vaccinated then that doesn’t only protect the child who’s vaccinated, but those who cannot be vaccinated, such as pregnant women, little babies cannot have certain vaccinations and also there are those who are immuno-compromised,” says Laura Laisure, R.N.

Munson Medical Center is making it easier for families to get their kids up-to-date at their immunization clinic on Saturday, August 27.

“It’s for everyone. For families who have insurance, but it’s also for families who don’t have insurance, and you can have a pediatrician or not have a pediatrician. It’s for anyone who’s interested,” says Laura.

Laura Laisure is a nurse at the immunization clinic, and says not making sure your child is protected is not worth the risk.

“You can’t predict if this child that isn’t vaccinated is going to catch the disease or not, and then if they do catch the disease you can’t predict how seriously they’re going to be sick. They could just be uncomfortable, or they could end up being hospitalize, or children even die from some of these vaccine preventable diseases,” explains Laura.

She says if parents are unsure or scared, they should talk to a trusted health care provider.

“I try to answer their individual questions, and also stress that vaccinations are tested several times before they’re approved by the FDA, and they are also constantly monitoring for side effects,” says Laura.

Christi adds, “It’s best to have that one-on-one conversation and express any concerns you have and learn. It’s our responsibility for us to educated ourselves and make the best decisions for our children.”

To learn more about the immunization clinic, click .

MedWatch: Back To School Vaccines