Parents across Houston are gearing up to send their kids back to school. While most people simply think of buying school supplies, a parent's checklist to prepare for the new school year should also include taking steps to make sure their children are healthy (and vaccinated!) for the new year.

For Houston parents looking for guidance, the Walgreens pharmacy team has a few tips and tricks to simplify the prep work for local parents, including:

1. Immunizations: COVID-19 led to more children missing or delaying routine immunizations. Work with your local pharmacist to make sure your kids stay up to date on vaccinations ahead of the new school year.

2. Physicals: When getting a last-minute appointment at the doctor’s office is tough, parents can use Walgreens Health Services to schedule appointments for sports and annual school physicals.

3. Stocking your Medicine Cabinet: Consult a local pharmacist for refreshing your medicine cabinet now to avoid last-minute runs to the store and stock up on multivitamin gummies or over-the-counter chewables for headaches.

a. Pro tip: Keep a first aid kit in your car for any on-the-go accidents.

4. Shopping for Supplies: If you need to check off that school supply list, use Walgreens' convenience offerings, including 1-Hour Delivery and 30-Minute Pickup to get the items you need on your schedule.

a. Pro tip: Take advantage of Walgreens school supply lists (powered by TeacherLists) to easily search for your children’s class list, and seamlessly add their school supplies to your cart – in the store or with one click online.

And, this week at Walgreens, parents can take advantage of back-to-school deals (15% off $30 with code SCHOOL15 and 20% off $45 with code SCHOOL20).

Unsure of what vaccines your kids need? From COVID-19 and Tdap to meningitis and HPV, here’s an easy guide to help you keep track of which ones your kids may need, when they need them and how to get them.

Here are the vaccines your children ages 4 to 6 should receive and may need before starting kindergarten:

• Flu — needed every year

• COVID-19

• Measles, mumps and rubella — or MMR, for short

• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) — known as DTaP

• Varicella (chickenpox)

• Polio (IPV)

Additional vaccinations that your elementary school–age children ages 7 to 10 should receive include:

• Flu — needed every year

• COVID-19

• Human papilloma virus (HPV) — recommended starting at age 9

Heading into middle school (ages 11 and 12), your preteen may need the following vaccines:

• Flu — needed every year

• COVID-19

• Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) — known as Tdap (this vaccine is different from DTaP)

• Meningitis (Meningococcal conjugate, called MenACWY)

• Human papilloma virus (HPV)

In junior high and high school (ages 13 to 18), your children should receive the following immunizations:

• Flu — needed every year

• COVID-19

• Meningitis

o Meningococcal conjugate, called MenACWY — 2nd dose at age 16

o Serogroup B meningococcal, called MenB — preferably between ages 16 and 18

• Human papilloma virus (HPV) — if they have not previously received it

Vaccines for college-age teenagers

College is an exciting time when your teenagers gain a whole new level of independence. Before their first semester begins, make sure your teenager is up to date on all their vaccinations and that they have the following vaccines:

• Flu — needed every year

• COVID-19

• Serogroup B meningococcal, called MenB — if they have not previously received it

• Human papilloma virus (HPV) — if they have not previously received it

For more information, visit blog.walgreens.com