Iowa City, IA — The Johnson County Board of Health is reaffirming its strong support for the childhood immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The schedule is based on decades of scientific research and is carefully designed to protect children from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases at the ages when they are most vulnerable.

“The AAP vaccination schedule is one of the most thoroughly reviewed and evidence-based tools we have to protect children’s health,” said Dr. Melanie Wellington, Chair of the Johnson County Board of Health and Clinical Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. “Vaccines are safe, effective, and they save lives.”

The AAP schedule outlines when children should receive vaccines that protect against diseases such as measles, whooping cough, polio, and meningitis. These diseases can spread quickly especially among young children and can lead to hospitalization, long-term health complications, and in some cases, death.

Vaccines work by safely teaching a child’s immune system how to recognize and fight specific germs before they are exposed in real life. By following the recommended schedule, children develop protection early, reducing their risk of severe illness and helping protect infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems in the community.

The vaccination schedule is reviewed every year by medical and public health experts. Recommendations are updated when new evidence becomes available to ensure children receive the safest and most effective protection possible. Delaying or skipping recommended vaccines can leave children vulnerable to preventable diseases and can increase the risk of outbreaks in schools and communities.

“Children have the right to be healthy. We have tools to prevent disease. We owe it to our children to maintain Iowa’s strong culture of immunization,” said Johnson County Public Health Director, Danielle Pettit-Majewski. “Following the recommended schedule is one of the most important steps families can take to keep their children healthy.”

Parents and caregivers can learn more about the recommended childhood vaccination schedule by visiting the American Academy of Pediatrics website at www.aap.org.

View the Official PDF Online