The holiday season countdown is on — a time for family gatherings, festive traditions, and many long-awaited travel plans. Whether you’re heading to a snowy wonderland, visiting relatives across the country, or maybe escaping the cold to a warmer destination abroad, one thing is certain: travel during the holidays can significantly increase exposure to infectious diseases. Before you head out, there are a few things you should consider attaching to your packing list.

The Reality of Holiday Travel and Disease Spread

Christmas travel is one of the busiest times of the year. Airports, train stations, and buses are packed with travelers from all walks of life, often from different regions or countries. Crowded spaces like these create ideal conditions for transmitting viruses and bacteria.

Typical scenarios where infections spread during travel include:

● Airports and Airplanes: High-contact surfaces like security bins, handrails, and airplane seats can harbor germs for hours.

● Enclosed Spaces: From packed terminals to crowded holiday parties, close contact with others increases the risk of airborne infections like flu or COVID-19.

● Seasonal Illness Spikes: Winter is prime time for respiratory viruses, including RSV, influenza, and the common cold.

● International Travel Risks: Visiting regions with different disease prevalence can expose your family to illnesses like measles, whooping cough, or meningitis.

What Vaccinations Should Your Child Get Before Holiday Travel?

Vaccinations are the best gifts during the holiday season. They give you the defense you need to ensure your body is ready to fight against preventable diseases. For children with developing immune systems, staying current on vaccines is crucial to reduce the risk of serious illness. There are many vaccines to consider getting before taking flight:

● Flu Vaccine
Flu season peaks during winter, coinciding with the holiday travel rush. Flu vaccination can help prevent infection or, at the very least, reduce the severity of symptoms if your child does catch the virus. To maximize protection, getting vaccinated at least two weeks before traveling is best.

● COVID-19 Vaccine
If your child is eligible, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations is just as important as the flu vaccine. This becomes even more important when visiting crowded destinations or traveling internationally, where the chances of exposure to the virus may be higher.

● Routine Childhood Immunizations
While preventable, diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella continue to pose risks in some regions, particularly during international travel or large holiday gatherings. Ensuring your child is current on routine vaccinations like the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is essential. Take a moment to review your child’s immunization records to confirm they’re fully protected against these common illnesses.

Planning Ahead: How to Make Vaccination Easy

Getting your child vaccinated before holiday travel doesn’t have to be stressful. There are only a few things to consider:

1. Check Their Vaccine Record: Consult your child’s pediatrician or local health clinic to ensure their immunizations are current.
2. Schedule Early: Aim to complete vaccinations at least two weeks before travel, as some vaccines take time to provide complete immunity.

A Healthy Holiday Season Starts With Prevention

The joy of Christmas travel shouldn’t come at the cost of your family’s health. Vaccinating your children allows you to focus on creating memories instead of worrying about fevers or doctor visits. This season, give your family the protection and peace of mind they need to enjoy the holidays.

Sources

CDC: Travelers’ Health

CDC: Holiday Travel Tips

School is a crucial time for every child’s development. It’s a place where they learn new things, form friendships, and explore the world with like-minded peers. Behind the scenes of this growth, one essential factor ensures their well-being and ability to thrive: vaccination.

In Tennessee, the 2022–2023 school year marked a significant achievement, with an impressive 95.4% immunization rate among kindergartners — well above the national average of approximately 93%. While not overtly visible throughout the year, this success is an achievement to strive for every year to ensure that children can enjoy their time at school. However, while we wait to see what trend Tennessee has this year, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already indicated that the 2023–2024 school year continued declines in vaccination coverage.

The Challenge of Declining Rates

While Tennessee’s rates have been commendable for that specific year, the broader national picture presents a cause for concern. According to the CDC, vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners decreased across all reported vaccines during the 2023–2024 school year. Coverage for diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) dropped to 92.3%, and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates declined to 92.7%. Exemptions also increased from 3.0% to 3.3%.

When vaccination rates drop, multiple diseases can spread simultaneously, making diagnosis more challenging, straining healthcare systems, disrupting schools, and increasing severe illness rates. Measles, a highly contagious but preventable disease, can rapidly spread in areas with low vaccine coverage. Seasonal influenza poses a significant yearly threat while emerging COVID-19 variants remind us of the need for ongoing vaccination efforts. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) has also surged recently, causing severe illness in young children and older adults. This overlap of illnesses can overwhelm hospitals, increase school absenteeism, and potentially lead to complex health challenges beyond the reach of existing vaccines.

Why Vaccination Matters

Vaccines are among the most effective tools for preventing disease. While measures like washing hands, covering your mouth when coughing, and staying home when sick can help reduce the spread of infection, none are as effective as vaccination. With vaccination rates declining, exemptions on the rise, and increased global travel just around the corner, the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases spreading in our communities is real.

In Tennessee, maintaining and improving immunization rates is especially critical. In 2024, the state reported its first measles case since 2019. Although the case was isolated, it serves as a stark reminder of how easily a disease like measles can be contracted and potentially spread.

A Shared Responsibility

Tennessee’s immunization success in 2022–2023 is an achievement worth celebrating — one that reflects the collective effort and serious commitment to combating disease. However, with national immunization trends for 2023–2024 showing a decline, gaps in the system could leave communities vulnerable as 2025 begins.

The best way to address this is to review your child’s vaccination schedule and book an appointment. Ensuring Tennessee meets national immunization goals contributes to the state’s health and the well-being of communities across the U.S.

Sources:

CDC: Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption Rates Among Children in Kindergarten — United States, 2023–24 School Year

CDC: Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemption from School Vaccine Requirements Among Children in Kindergarten — United States, 2022–23 School Year

Tennessee Department of Health: Tennessee Department of Health Confirms First Positive Measles Case in the State Since 2019