Grandparents for Vaccines launches back-to-school campaign

Grandparents for Vaccines has launched “Before the Bell Rings!” to encourage parents to catch children up on vaccines before school starts. The campaign comes as U.S. measles cases rise and includes social outreach, media outreach and an in-person backpack donation event in Camden, New Jersey.

Why it matters: - Rising measles cases are putting more pressure on parents to make sure children are protected before school starts. - The campaign aims to move vaccine updates onto the same back-to-school checklist as school supplies, haircuts and other fall prep. - Grandparents for Vaccines says the effort is designed to help families understand the real risks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

What happened: - Grandparents for Vaccines launched its first back-to-school vaccine education campaign, “Before the Bell Rings!” on Aug. 5, 2026. - The nonprofit is based in Cleveland. - The campaign combines social media tips, media outreach and in-person events. - One event includes backpacks and vaccine-related information for families of preschool students in Camden, New Jersey. - Executive Director Kim Boller said the campaign is meant to remind parents that vaccine updates belong on the back-to-school to-do list.

The details: - Grandparents for Vaccines is a storytelling organization that shares first-hand accounts from people who lived before childhood vaccines were widely available. - The group has been featured on national and local media outlets across the country. - The organization focuses on diseases including measles, rubella, tetanus, pertussis and polio. - By July 2026, U.S. measles cases had already exceeded the total number reported in all of 2025. - The group was founded on Grandparents Day, Sept. 7, 2025. - Grandparents for Vaccines says it has nearly 6,000 members nationwide. - More information is available on the organization’s website.

Between the lines: - The campaign is timed to use a familiar seasonal moment to push a public health message that can be easy to postpone. - The focus on grandparents’ stories is meant to make vaccine-preventable diseases feel more immediate, not historical. - The Camden event suggests the group is pairing awareness with direct community outreach.

What's next: - Grandparents for Vaccines plans to keep using social media, media appearances and local events to reach families heading into the school year. - Boller urged parents to follow their doctors’ advice and update vaccinations before classes begin. - The organization is likely to continue highlighting measles trends as a reason for action.