Back to School in Health Published Sept. 9, 2016 By Maj. Bobie Williams 126th Medical Group Scott Air Force Base, Illinois -- Immunizations are the actions of making a person or animal immune to infection, typically by inoculation. Vaccinate means to treat with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease; inoculate. They are commonly used interchangeably and are one of our greatest defenses against many serious illnesses. Help keep yourself and your family protected; make sure your children are properly immunized. More: Review the CDC vaccination schedules for infants, children, preteens and adults Illinois state law requires certain immunizations for children and adults enrolled in child care, school or college. State law also mandates immunizations for adults in specific fields of work (healthcare). Immunizations protect children against the following: Chickenpox Diphtheria Hepatitis B Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Influenza Measles Meningitis Mumps Pertussis (whooping cough) Polio Pneumococcal Disease Rotavirus Rubella (German measles) Tetanus (lockjaw) Beginning in fall 2014, all students who entered, transferred or advanced into kindergarten through 12th grades are required to show proof of receipt of two doses of mumps and two doses of rubella vaccine. In addition, students entering, transferring or advancing into kindergarten, 6th or 9th grades are required to show proof of receipt of two doses of varicella vaccine. Most students likely have already received the vaccine and simply need to provide the school with verifying documentation from their healthcare provider. (The information mentioned above was taken from the Illinois Department of Health website.)