CHICAGO (WLS) — It’s back-to-school season, and Cook County public health officials are launching a campaign to make sure kids are vaccinated.

At a Southwest Side book bag giveaway Wednesday, Araceli Martinez said a new backpack and plenty of school supplies aren’t the only way she’s getting her 5-year-old daughter, Ariana, ready for pre-K.

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She’s going to make sure she’s vaccinated, too.

“She’s gonna meet a lot of kids, and it’s important because we don’t know if somebody is sick or something,” Martinez said.

With class starting next week for thousands of kids, Martinez is one of many heeding the call to get their children vaccinated against measles.

“We need to have all of our children vaccinated. Measles anywhere is a threat everywhere,” 5th District Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha McCaskill said.

Cook County health officials joined with faith and community leaders to announce the launch of a new awareness campaign encouraging measles vaccinations when kids reach 1 and 4 or before entering kindergarten.

“Two doses of the MMR measles vaccine provides 97% protection and lifelong immunity,” Cook County Health CEO Dr. Erik Mikaitis said.

Experts remind parents that the vaccine is safe and effective and has been used for more than 50 years.

“Getting vaccinated is an important thing. I know that many of you perhaps parents are apprehensive about it. There’s a lot of misinformation,” said Bishop Dr. Reginald Saffo, United Faith M.B. Church senior pastor.

It was thought that measles was eradicated in the United States in the year 2000, but cases have been steadily increasing in recent years.

Cook County public health officials say the number of students not vaccinated for measles in suburban Cook County has doubled in the past decade.

According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, last year, 93.3% of public, private and charter school students were vaccinated against the measles. That’s better than the 2023-24 school year where only 92.5% of public, private and charter school students were vaccinated against the measles.

Across suburban Cook County last year, 96.2% of public, private and charter school students were vaccinated against the measles. And while still above the critical immunity threshold, it’s the lowest vaccinated rate in 10 years.

Cook County public health officials say 97% of people who had measles this year were unvaccinated. In Cook County, measles vaccination coverage is about 96%.

“This is enough for community protection right now. But, in past decades the number of unvaccinated children in suburban Cook County has doubled. If this trend continues, outbreaks will become more likely and more dangerous,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, Cook County Department of Public Health COO.

Local health officials say the biggest obstacle is fear about vaccinations because of misinformation.

“We have a leader in Washington in Secretary Kennedy who has made it a point to disparage vaccines and their efficacy, and that is counterproductive and dangerous,” Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle said.

The awareness campaign will also include mobile outreach to marginalized communities and communities of color.

Cook County public health officials say they’re launching their measles vaccination campaign on Monday, just as many kids head back to school.