Greene County Public Health is offering evening immunization clinics on Wednesday, August 1, and Wednesday, August 8, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. for students still needing required school vaccinations.
In addition to immunizations, public health will be offering dental screenings, lead screenings and free haircuts. Parents will also be able to sign their kids up to receive a free backpack filled with school supplies. “We’re expanding our back to school clinics to include more than immunizations,” said Public Health Director Becky Wolf. “This is a great one-stop opportunity for families to get their kids ready for the new school year.”
While these back to school evening clinics are open to children of all ages, they are especially for incoming kindergarteners, 7th graders and 12th graders – age groups that have required immunizations for school.
Kindergarteners are required to have Dtap, Polio, MMR and Varicella vaccinations. Seventh graders are required to have Tdap and meningitis vaccinations, and are recommended to be vaccinated for HPV and Hepatitis A, if they haven’t already. Twelfth graders are required to be vaccinated for meningitis, and it is recommended that they also be vaccinated for Hepatitis A, HPV, Meningitis B and Varicella, if they haven’t already.
Last year, the State of Iowa began requiring a one-time dose of meningococcal (A, C, W, Y) vaccine on or after 10 years of age for students in grades 7 and above, if born after September 15, 2004. For students in 12th grade, two doses of meningococcal (A, C, W, Y) vaccine are required with one dose received on or after 16 years of age, if born after September 15, 1999, or one dose if received when students are 16 years of age or older.
For more information, contact Greene County Public Health at 386-3228.