As families prepare for children to head back to the classroom, getting caught up on routine vaccinations may be on the checklist.
To help, Mesa County Public Health is hosting a Back-to-School Vaccine Clinic on Saturday, August 6th from 9 AM to 12 PM. This is a walk-in clinic, so no appointment is needed; parents can bring their child at a time that works best for them.
“Anything we can do to help prevent those diseases that are easily passed from one child to the other, that’s really why we push those school entry vaccines, just to keep everybody healthy,” said Allison Sanchez, the Public Health Clinic Manager at Mesa County Public Health.
Parents should bring their child’s immunization record with them, as well as their insurance card. If needed, nurses can check records to see which vaccines are needed. The clinic accepts all major health insurance plans, however, there are programs available for those without insurance.
“Do not let cost be a barrier. For those children without insurance, we can provide vaccinations at low cost. We will work with all families to make sure kids get what they need for school,” said Sanchez.
The COVID-19 vaccine will also be available at the clinic if families are interested. Many families got behind on routine vaccinations during the pandemic. The Public Health Clinic is working to help families get back on track.
“Having those conversations with parents about where they are and where they need to be and setting up a timeline is really what we aim for to get them caught up as soon as we can,” said Sanchez.
If parents have any concerns about vaccinations, nurses will be on hand to answer questions.