Back-To-School 2025

This edition features resources, tips, and events to support vaccine confidence during the 2025 back-to-school season.



At the Massachusetts Vaccine Confidence Project, we’re committed to protecting all Massachusetts residents from vaccine preventable diseases.

TIPS & TALKING POINTS

As the school year approaches, families are heading into your practice for required vaccines, making this a great time to ensure students are up to date. Here are quick tips to help you engage families and support vaccine confidence:

• Give strong recommendations. Parents trust your advice. Give a clear recommendation about which pediatric vaccines are due and why they’re important.

• Be ready for questions. If parents have vaccine questions, use the moment to listen, reassure, and reinforce your message and recommendation. See Childhood Immunization Discussion Guides and Common Immunization Questions from Parents from American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

• Remind families about school-required vaccines. Massachusetts requires certain vaccines for school attendance. Use this opportunity to send reminders to families behind on well-child visits or vaccinations.

• Take the opportunity to engage adults. Back-to-school season often brings parents, caregivers, and older siblings into the clinic. Take advantage of this opportunity to remind adults about recommended adult vaccines.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES

Looking for tools to support vaccine confidence during the back to school season?

Here are resource highlights recommended by the MVCP team:

• Communicating effectively: Let's Talk About Vaccines: A Guide to Communications About Vaccines

• Engaging with parents: Preparing for Questions Parents May Ask About Vaccines

• Making strong recomendations: How to Recommend Vaccines Effectively (Interactive Activity)

• Reframing messaging: Reframing the Conversation about Child and Adolescent Vaccinations

• School engagement: Let's RISE Toolkit: Ways Schools Can Support Routine Vaccination Catch-Up Among School-Aged Children

• Vaccine information: VIS statements in (see Hatian Creole and Portuguese)

• Immunization news: IZExpress Newsletter (Immunize.org)

• Interested in social media? View Vaccinate Your Family's #FirstDayVax campaign

PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT

Michelle Caron - Vaccine Coordinator, Walden Pond Pediatrics

Walden Pond Pediatrics in Concord, MA is a small but impactful practice that vaccinates a large portion of pediatric patients in their community. Vaccine Coordinator Michelle Caron is highly engaged and stays up to date on state policies. Michelle regularly reaches out with thoughtful questions and concerns, always aiming to improve immunization rates in her community. With a hands-on Medical Director as her back-up, Michelle and her team at Waldon Pond are dedicated, proactive, and deeply committed to vaccine confidence and quality care. Their collaborative and informed approach makes Walden Pond Pediatrics a standout example of vaccine excellence and community care. Thank you to Michelle, and to Walden Pediatrics, for being immunization champions!

MenACWY POLICY UPDATE

Did you know? If you are a public sector provider site (community health centers, local health departments) and enrolled in the state-vaccine program you can provide uninsured and under-insured adults over the age of 19 with state-supplied vaccines as instructed by the MDPH adult availability table.



As of July 1st 2025, MenACWY is listed on the adult availability table for public sector provider sites to be administered to both uninsured and under-insured adult patients aged 19-20 that require the vaccine to meet Massachusetts school requirements.

IMMUNIZATION UPDATE WEBINAR

Understanding and Building Vaccine Confidence

In case you missed it, the recording of the June 4th Immunization Update Webinar: Understanding and Building Vaccine Confidence is now available.

Presented by DPH public health immunization nurses, this session covered the current immunization landscape, recent uptake trends, and practical skills and strategies to help increase vaccine confidence. The webinar is part of an ongoing educational series designed for providers.

Looking for additional trainings and webinars?

The MVCP Trainings & Webinar Opportunities page has been updated with a collection of free learning opportunities. Explore recorded webinars and online trainings focused on building vaccine confidence. Many include professional credits.

NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH

August 2025

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), observed each August, highlights the importance of staying up to date on vaccines at every age. It’s a chance to raise awareness and encourage conversations with trusted healthcare providers.

All staff in healthcare play important roles during NIAM:

• Engage in learning opportunities with CDC's Immunization Education and Training courses.
• Make your practice a space that welcomes vaccine questions and concerns from patients and parents.
• Use proven strategies to encourage parents and patients to stay up to date on vaccinations.
• Make immunization schedules easy for parents and patients to find by displaying them on your website.
• Use tools like PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor Mobile App to help make vaccine recommendations.

Interested in social media?

Check out the Voices for Vaccines #NIAM2025 guide for posting on social media throughout the month!

NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK

August 3-9, 2025

National Health Center Week #NHCW25 is focused on public awareness of Community Health Centers and the amazing work they do every day.

We’re excited to share that the Healey Administration has officially August 3–9 as Massachusetts Health Center Week! Read the press release from the MA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP) and the MA Adult Immunization Coalition (MAIC). The MVCP deeply appreciates the vital role Massachusetts Community Health Centers play in protecting the health of our residents.

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has created a social media toolkit to help aid in your celebration of #NHCW25:

• #NHCW25 Social Media Toolkit
• Talking Points
• Tips for Pitching Media Outlets
• Letter to the Editor Template
• Op-Ed Template
• Press Release Template
• Proclamation Template
• Downloadable Graphics

Looking for practical training for CHWs?

See the Vaccination Community Navigator Training from Vaccinate Your Family.

UPCOMING EVENTS

30^th Annual Massachusetts Immunization Action Partnership (MIAP) Pediatric Immunization Skills Building Conference

November 5, 2025 - DCU Center, Worcester MA

• Vaccine Confidence Plenary Session: The Current Landscape: Countering Vaccine Misinformation and Disinformation – David Hill, MD, FAAP
• Registration will open in August. Be on the lookout for conference updates!



Vaccine confidence: The trust in the recommended vaccines, the providers who administer them,

and the process that leads to vaccine licensure and recommendations.

OUR PARTNERS