Pennsylvania’s Department of Health has sent out the Annual Child Care Immunization Reporting Survey to all licensed child care providers to meet immunization reporting requirements.
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The department asks that all licensed child care providers complete and submit the survey online by Monday, August 31.
The DOH has provided resource materials to help with reviewing immunization records and completing the survey:
Completing the tracking worksheets first will help providers in completing the survey. Only the survey needs to be submitted to the DOH, whereas the tracking worksheets are only a tool to help providers organize information needed to complete the survey.
Additionally, DOH as well as county and municipal department staff – most of whom are registered nurses – will visit randomly selected providers to offer education, resource materials, and other activities about the importance of vaccines.
The Annual Child Care Immunizations Survey 2026 is available online.
Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources can help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and identify them.
Here is a list of resources for August observances.
Month-Long Observances
Summer Sun Safety Month
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Back to School Month
National Breastfeeding Month
Weeks of Recognition
Aug. 3 – 9 is Exercise with Your Child Week
Days of Recognition
Aug. 5 is National Night Out
Aug. 9 is National Book Lover’s Day
Aug. 15 is Back to School Prep Day
Aug. 26 is Women’s Equality Day
Pennsylvania’s Department of Health is requesting that all licensed child care providers complete the Annual Child Care Immunization Survey to meet state immunization reporting requirements.
Learn More
The DOH asks all licensed child care providers to complete and submit the survey by Friday, Sept. 19. The completion of the survey is intended to meet the state’s reporting requirements regarding immunization for children in child care group settings.
A number of resource materials are available to help with reviewing immunization records and completing the survey, including:
The new survey is longer because of its new format. The DOH developed immunization tracking sheets that follow the survey questions. Before taking the survey this year and in future years, completing the tracking sheets will help child care providers take the survey.
The DOH and county or municipal Health Department staff – mostly registered nurses – will visit selected child care providers to offer education, resource materials, and other items or activities about the importance of vaccines and to answer questions.
Any questions should be sent to the DOH at RA-DHImmunize@pa.gov. The survey is available on the DOH’s website.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is sending a survey regarding child care immunization records to all licensed providers.
Learn More
The annual reporting of immunizations by all licensed child care providers is a state requirement.
In recent years, the requirement was met by the DOH and County Municipal Health Department (CMHD) staff visiting a random sample of providers to review and document the status of immunization records. However, this method did not give the DOH a complete picture of the immunization status of child care providers statewide or identify areas of the state that could benefit from additional education or vaccination services.
As a result, the process to meet state reporting requirements has changed this year and involves two processes that have or will take place:
- The DOH and CMHD staff visited a random sample of providers over the summer but only to educate, provide resource materials, and help providers read and understand vaccination records
- A new Child Care Reporting survey is now required. It needs to be completed by all licensed child care providers even if they received a visit by a DOH or CMHD staff member this summer.
The survey will be used to assist the DOH in identifying areas of the state that may require additional education and outreach services regarding immunizations and vaccine availability. Once a provider submits the survey, a copy of responses will be emailed to the address listed on the survey.
The survey must be completed by no later than Thursday, Oct. 31.
Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them.
Here is a list of resources for August observances:
Month-Long Observances
Summer Sun Safety Month
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
- National Center Releases Guide on Children’s Eye Health, Trying Together
- An Eye Health Information Tool Kit for Parents and Caregivers, National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health
- Eye Health and Safety for Kids, National Eye Institute (NEI)
- Get Free or Low-Cost Eye Care For Children, National Eye Institute (NEI)
- Eye Conditions and Diseases, National Eye Institute (NEI)
- 6 Ways to Be Proactive About Your Child’s Eye Health, John Hopkins Medicine
- Keep an Eye on Your Child’s Vision, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Resources for Parents of Blind and Low-Vision Children, Library of Congress: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
- Parenting Without Sight: What Attorneys and Social Workers Should Know About Blindness, National Federation of the Blind
- How to Get Free Audio Books for the Blind and Visually Impaired, The Braille Institute
- 25+ Children’s Books Featuring Visually Impaired Characters, WonderBaby
Back to School Month
National Breastfeeding Month
Weeks of Recognition
August 6 – 12 is Exercise with Your Child Week
- Childhood Physical Health: Resources, Trying Together
- Play and Physical Activity Guide for Educators & Families, Trying Together
- Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families: The Importance of Exercise, Trying Together
- Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health, Trying Together
- Air Quality Tips and Training Available for Families and Educators, Trying Together
- Physical Education Vocabulary for Kids, Trying Together
- Resources for Supporting Physical Activity, Nutrition, Play and More, Action for Healthy Kids
- Promoting the Physical Health of Boys (and Girls), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Days of Recognition
August 1 is National Night Out (NNO)
August 9 is National Book Lovers Day
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Releases 2023 Best Books for Babies List, Trying Together
- Toolkit: Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literacy Success, Trying Together
- 2023 Virtual Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip, Trying Together
- Children’s Books on Race and Equity, Trying Together
- Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together
- Children’s Books About Transitions, Trying Together
- Children’s Books About Mental Health, Trying Together
- Restaurants Add Books to the Menu with Summer Reading Programs, Trying Together
August 15 is National Back To School Prep Day
August 26 is Women’s Equality Day
Don’t let your child fall behind on their needed immunizations. Visit the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to access vaccinations for children ages two months through high school, receive WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) form assistance, learn important health and safety information, and more.
About the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown are partnering to bring needed vaccines, safely, to western Pennsylvania communities through the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
Appropriate physical distancing measures will be maintained. Please give yourself adequate time in case of a wait. Adults and children over age two are asked to arrive wearing a mask. A mask will be provided if you do not have one. Children must be accompanied by one parent or legal guardian.
Services Provided
The following services will be available:
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- vaccinations, ages two months through high school;
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) form assistance;
- health and safety information;
- kindergarten registration information;
- at-home activities for summertime; and
- food and infant formula resources.
Available Dates and Locations
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is scheduled at the following locations and times:
Always call the Care Mobile prior to coming to any clinic at 412.352.1059 or 412.352.1060 for updated information about any weather or mechanical difficulties. No appointment is necessary at most sites.
More Information
For questions, contact the Care Mobile at 412.352.1059. To view the updated schedule, please visit the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh website.
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