August 7, 2026
As summer winds down and families get ready for a new school year, parents and caregivers are juggling a lot: stocking up on school supplies, shifting routines, and a slew of errands and appointments. For many families, back-to-school season is also a time to check whether children are up to date on routine vaccines—well timed for National Immunization Awareness Month.
Through our work with families and partners across Rochester and the Finger Lakes region, we know that every family’s experience is different. Some live close to a pediatric office, school-based health center, or pharmacy. Others live in rural communities where appointments, transportation, work schedules, and distance can make care harder to reach. And many are doing their best to sort through conflicting information from a variety of sources.
No matter where families live, one thing is true: parents deserve clear information, trusted support, and respectful answers to their questions. So Healthi Kids talked with children’s health leaders and practitioners in our region to help families feel supported as they make decisions for themselves, their children, and the community.
Vaccines help protect children and communities
Routine vaccines help protect children from serious illnesses, including measles, whooping cough, polio, meningitis, chickenpox, flu, and others. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine childhood immunizations because they help children build protection before they are exposed to diseases that can cause serious harm.
“One of the most important things we can do for children and their families is to protect children from preventable serious illness and infections,” said Dr. LJ Shipley, M.D., professor of clinical pediatrics and vice chair for population and behavioral health at Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “Immunization works and the science is clear that immunizations are safe and effective.”
For schools, vaccines are also part of keeping children healthy, learning, and safely connected to their classrooms.
“Immunization is a really great public health tool to keep students safe from diseases,” said Erin Graupman, coordinator of student health for the Rochester City School District. “It’s the number one way to protect our kids, to keep them healthy and learning, and to protect our community and our school community.”
That protection matters. When more people are vaccinated, it is harder for diseases to spread from person to person. This helps protect babies who are too young for some vaccines, children with certain medical conditions, and neighbors who may be more vulnerable. A recently confirmed measles case in Allegany County is a timely reminder that staying up to date can help keep our whole region healthier.
Parents have questions, and that’s okay
Parents today hear about vaccines from many places: doctors, schools, family members, friends, group chats, social media, and online searches. It can be hard to know what to trust.
“Parents right now are being bombarded with a lot of information and unsupported claims,” said Sarah Collins-McGowan, M.D., medical director of the Golisano Children’s Pediatric Practice. “It can be very confusing and nerve-racking to try to figure out what’s best for their kids and their families.”
That is why local pediatricians and school health teams encourage parents to ask questions, even if they are not sure where to start.
“My job as a pediatrician is to help make sure parents are getting good information,” Dr. Collins-McGowan said. “They don’t have to wonder, ‘Is this post I see on social media real?’ I can help them sort through that.”
HealthyChildren.org, the parent-facing website from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), offers clear answers to common vaccine questions, including why vaccines are given on a schedule, what to do if a child falls behind, and how vaccines are studied for safety. The AAP notes that if a child misses a vaccine, families do not need to start over. A pediatrician or health care provider can help create a catch-up plan.
Dr. Collins-McGowan said the most helpful conversations begin with listening.
“One of the things we’ve learned is that it’s important to solicit questions and have really good conversations with families about whatever they’re most worried about.”
Local partners working together
Families across Rochester and the Finger Lakes are supported by a strong network of local partners. One example is PedsROC4Kids, a community-wide collaborative that includes Golisano Children’s, Rochester Regional Health, Jordan Health, community primary care pediatricians and family medicine providers, and behavioral and mental health teams. The Rochester City School District and Monroe County Department of Health are part of the effort, as are community-based organizations ROC the Future Alliance, and the Combined Entity of Common Ground Health-Finger Lakes Performing Provider System-Rochester Regional Health Information Organization.
PedsROC4Kids builds on years of local collaboration across health care, education, behavioral health, schools, and community partners. “We’ve had a long history of working together on behalf of kids and families,” said Dr. Shipley. “During the pandemic, when there were so many questions and uncertainty, there was an opportunity to strengthen those ties and relationships.”
That teamwork helps families hear clear and consistent information from people they already know and trust, including doctors, nurses, school staff, and community partners. Assuring access to immunizations and trusted resources for families with questions has been an ongoing focus.
What’s available as families head back to school
Local providers and school health teams know that back-to-school season is a busy time of year. Many pediatric and family medicine practices plan for it by adding appointment times or vaccine visits to help families get children ready for school.
Families may also be able to get support through their child’s pediatrician or family doctor, school nurses, local health departments, school-based health centers, community clinics, and mobile health efforts.
“Transportation is one of the key barriers,” Graupman said. “Family work schedules are another big barrier.”
A new Golisano Children’s mobile clinic initiative will help reach young people who may be disconnected from care. Director of Integrated Community Services at Golisano Children’s Hospital Christina Barnwell is part of the team dedicated to community engagement and serves on the Caregiver and Youth Advisory Board. “The mobile initiative is focusing on some of our higher-need youth in our communities, including those who are unhoused,” Barnwell said. “But we’ll see any youth who is in need of care, from birth to age 20.”
The goal is to meet immediate needs while helping young people reconnect to ongoing care.
“We want to make sure they are receiving the health care they need, and reconnecting them back to their medical home,” said Barnwell.
What parents can do now
If you are not sure whether your child is up to date, you are not alone. A good first step is to check your child’s immunization record or call your child’s doctor. If your child has missed a vaccine, ask about a catch-up plan.
If transportation, work schedules, distance, or childcare make appointments hard, ask your provider, school nurse, or local health department what options may be available. There may be more support than you realize.
Most importantly, bring your questions.
“Parents need to know that their voices matter, and that we want them to feel comfortable speaking up and asking questions,” Barnwell said.
That message is at the heart of this work. Parents know their children best. Health care providers, school nurses, and community partners are here to listen, answer questions, and help families find the care that works for them.
Whether your family lives in Rochester, a suburb, a small town, a village, or a rural part of the Finger Lakes, your questions matter. Clear answers and trusted support can help every child stay healthy, learning, and ready for the year ahead.