DuPage Health Urges Vaccines For Kids Ahead Of School Year

WHEATON, IL — As the start of the 2021-22 school year looms, public health officials in DuPage County are urging parents to get their children vaccinated against coronavirus "as soon as possible."

“We all want to see students safely return to in-person learning this upcoming school year. By getting them fully vaccinated against COVID-19, they will be able to focus on the experiences that matter most,” said DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) Executive Director Karen Ayala in a news release.

Ayala added, "COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. Since it takes about five weeks to achieve full vaccination and protection, we are urging parents to get their children 12 years and older vaccinated as soon as possible to help keep them and their friends safe this school year."

Related: DuPage County COVID-19 Clinic Scales Down As 'Pandemic Evolves'

County health officials stressed that coronavirus vaccinations will help prevent interruptions to the school year, as vaccinated children will not be required to quarantine if exposed to a coronavirus patient. On July 9, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that vaccinated students would not be required to wear masks heading into the coming school year.

As of July 19, DCHD reports that 65 percent of residents who are 12 years old or older have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus.