Introduction
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children and adolescents in the U.S. 18 years and younger receive vaccinations against multiple vaccine-preventable diseases (AAP, 2026). Childhood immunizations have led to considerable reductions in incidence of these diseases (Talbird et al., 2022). Vaccinations are also critical for community protection when vaccination coverage is high, thereby offering protection to individuals who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons (Orenstein & Ahmed, 2017).
School nurses are highly trusted sources of health information for families and are strongly positioned as public health advocates within their communities. They play an invaluable role in educating students, families, and school staff about the importance of vaccines in preventing disease, promoting student and staff health, reducing absenteeism, and supporting safe school environments.
For additional information on the role of the school nurse in student immunizations, please refer to NASN’s position statements and related resources linked below.
NASN Statements
National Association of School Nurses. (2025). Immunization and Vaccination Requirements (Position Statement). Silver Spring, MD.
National Association of School Nurses. (2026). NASN Statement on CDC Vaccine Recommendations. Silver Spring, MD.
National Association of School Nurses. (2025). School health services (SHS) teams: Supporting student health and learning (Position Statement). Silver Spring, MD.