Back to school is right around the corner and now is the time doctors say you might want to make sure your kids are up to date on their vaccinations. August is National Immunization Awareness Month. It's a chance to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages and encourage people to talk to a health care provider they trust about staying up to date on their vaccinations. The American Journal of Managed Care says Vaccination programs over the past 50 years (June 1974 to May 2024) have prevented an estimated 154 million deaths from 14 different diseases. Vaccines are subject to rigorous and extensive development programs mandated by the FDA. Immunocompromised individuals are often at a higher risk of severe illness, making vaccines a critical defense, not a risk to be avoided. Dr. Greg Buller, chair of medicine at Bridgeport Hospital says most kids in Connecticut going back to school will be vaccinated. "Last year of the children entering into kindergarten in Connecticut over 97% had received a childhood immunization when the measles epidemic much of the United States. We had zero cases," said Buller. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Connecticut ranked highest in the country for two-dose measles vaccination rate. Connecticut's increasing vaccination rate is far above the national vaccination rate.