West Michigan health departments encourage students to be vaccinated ahead of school year West Michigan health departments encourage students to be vaccinated ahead of school year Replay Video UP NEXT Health leaders were encouraging students to get their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine soon in order to be fully vaccinated for the start of the school year. For example, the first day of class at Battle Creek Public Schools was set for Aug. 25, 2021. So if families wanted their children to be fully vaccinated by then, they would need to have their second dose by Aug. 11 because people reach full vaccination status two weeks after their final shot. This meant students should get their first dose by July 21 at the latest, because the Pfizer vaccine - approved for children 12 and older - required three weeks between doses.