Westchester County Health Department Offers Back to School Shots

The Westchester County Department of Health reminds parents and guardians that backpacks and pencils aren’t all that’s needed to get kids ready for school.  Now is the time to schedule an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider to ensure that he or she will have the immunizations he or she needs to avoid vaccine-preventable illness throughout the school year. Some vaccines are even required by New York State to start school on time.

Cases of whooping cough in school aged children have been reported here in Westchester and recent national and international outbreaks of measles serve as important reminders of the need to ensure that residents are up-to-date with all recommended vaccinations.

The Westchester County Health Department will offer free immunizations by appointment during special back-to-school clinics for children ages twelve months through 18 years, who are uninsured or whose insurance doesn’t cover immunizations.

 During these clinics, facilitated enrollers will be on hand to help parents and guardians sign their children up for the health insurance they need. Families without a regular doctor also will receive information about where to go for ongoing pediatric primary care. At these back to school clinics, the Health Department also will offer vaccines that provide protection against meningitis and HPV.

Appointments will be made on a first come, first served basis for vaccine sessions from Tuesday, August 6 through Tuesday, September 24. To schedule an appointment, call the Westchester County Department of Health immunization Action Program at 813-5000.

            You can also find more information at www.westchestergov.com/health, follow us on Twitter @wchealthdept or like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/wchealthdept.