High School to College/Career

On this page

  • Recommended vaccines for specific age group
  • Actions recommended for school nurses
  • Communication tools
    • Sample newsletter blurb
    • Sample letter to parents: transitioning from high school to college/career
    • Sample letter to students: transitioning from high school to college/career
  • Resources for parents and school nurses
  • References

Recommended vaccines for specific age group 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) schedule below shows the recommended vaccines for children age 7-18. Vaccines for college/career adults, 19-26 years of age, is shown below the scheduled and outlined in red. Each college or career choice determines the immunizations required or recommended.

Information for Parents 2019 Recommended Immunizations for Children 7 - 18 Years Old

Information for Parents 2019 Recommended Immunizations for Children 7 - 18 Years Old1

Adults 19-26 years old

SchoolVaxView for College and Technical School Applicants2

Actions recommended for school nurses

  • Prepare interventions Although immunizations are only one aspect of the school nurse’s role3, it is a very important one. According to the NASN position statement for the role of the 21st century school nurse, “immunization compliance is much greater in schools with school nurses (Baisch, Lundeen, & Murphy, 2011).”3 Therefore, school nurses must be cognizant of the transitioning student and how they can appropriately intervene to improve optimal outcomes for a healthy young adult.
       
  • Communicate with families and students The school nurse also has the role of communicator with the parents and students. In some instancs, there may be required immunizations for college-bound students, or based on a career in health.  The importance of a student’s continued health should be the focus. Both parents and students look to school nurses to provide guidance, education, and to give research-driven information on why they should immunize [their child].4 By providing or reminding parents and students how to access and/or print immunization records for use in the future, school nurses are being an excellent resource. 
     
  • Encourage compliance How parents and young adults receive information regarding vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) is an individual decision for each school nurse to make, depending on resources available. Technology affords the school nurse the easiest way to send communication home via student systems available in each district. Suggesting websites that young adult can access5 and check out is helpful.  Providing information for graduating students with other school documents that will be sent home or given out can be a useful tool.  Writing a newsletter article, sending follow-up letters to parents and students, and providing easy access to immunizations by having a school-located vaccination (SLV) clinic or partnering with a mobile vaccination clinic may improve the rate of high school boosters that may have been missed.6
      
  • Communicate evidence-based information In this age group, evidence-based information on all vaccines, including the recommended human papillomavirus vaccine,7 as well as the meningococcal vaccine8 is important to stress. Many students may have already obtained these vaccines but some may have missed the opportunity. Some universities may require the meningococcal vaccine. When given accurate, consistent information, “protection against vaccine-preventable diseases will be increased.”6
       
  • Collaborate with community resources School nurses use community resources for many student health issues, with immunizations being one of those issues. Area healthcare providers, public health departments, community centers, and other local organizations may all be useful resources to collaborate with to provide information and access to immunizations as well as reliable health care options. Providing these resources to young adults will help them navigate their new responsibility of health care for life. 

Communication tools

References

1. CDC Information for Parents 2019 Recommended Immunizations for Children 7 - 18 Years Old 
2. CDC SchoolVaxView for College and Technical School Applicants
3. National Association of School Nurses. (2016). The role of the 21st century school nurse (Position Statement). Silver Spring, MD: Author. 
4. National Association of School Nurses. (2017). School-located vaccination (Position Statement). Silver Spring, MD: Author.  
5. Immunization Action Coalition. Vaccine Information You Need.
6. Walker TY, Elam-Evans LD, Singleton JA, et al. National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:874–882. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6633a2
7. CDC HPV Vaccine for Preteens and Teens
8. CDC Meningococcal Vaccines for Preteens and Teens