TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) - As students around the region begin returning to class, CHRISTUS Health is reminding parents about the immunizations required for their children to do so.

"Vaccines train the body's defense system to recognize and respond to harmful invaders," said Dr. Loren Robinson, chief medical officer at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System. "By introducing a safe version of a threat, immunizations prepare your immune system to act quickly and effectively if it encounters the real illness later."

Child vaccinations are required under Texas law before students can attend school. These include MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), hepatitis A and B, and DTap (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccinations can help

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