Rochester, Minnesota - At back-to-school time, many parents and caregivers make checklists to ensure children have the supplies they need for the school year. Mayo Clinic Children's Center pediatrician Dr. Robert Jacobson says vaccinations should definitely be on that list. He says they protect children from contracting and spreading diseases that could cause serious complications.

"Work done here at Mayo Clinic in the 1970s showed how severe chickenpox can be for some children. That research convinced experts throughout the country that we needed a chickenpox vaccine." Dr. Jacobson says to check and see that school-age kids, including those going off to college, have vaccinations that are up to date.

Click here to find your state and school vaccine requirements.