The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Division, is now offering back-to-school immunizations for eligible children beginning school this fall.
Public Health can provide all childhood vaccinations required for school entry, as well as those vaccinations that are recommended to keep children healthy.
Schools are required to verify each child’s immunization record to make sure all shots and boosters are completed before entry to kindergarten and seventh grade. Kindergartners need a total of five DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), four polio, three hepatitis B, two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and one varicella (chickenpox) shot. In addition, since a new California law was signed in 2010, students entering 7th grade will need to show proof of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine before starting school.
Parents who do not have a health care provider and wish to have their child vaccinated through a scheduled appointment at Public Health may call the Public Health Clinic at (530) 621-6100 in Placerville or (530) 573-3155 in South Lake Tahoe. Any child on Medi-Cal, who is uninsured or under-insured (insurance does not cover vaccinations), is eligible for Public Health’s immunization services. A $10 administrative fee is charged per shot, though no child will be refused a vaccination due to inability to pay. Parents are asked to bring their child’s immunization record. The Public Health Clinic buildings are located at 931 Spring Street in Placerville and 1360 Johnson Boulevard, Suite 103 in South Lake Tahoe.
Public Health is also conducting a series of free walk-in vaccination clinics for eligible children at designated locations throughout El Dorado County. For a list of dates and locations of the free walk-in vaccination clinics, visit www.edcgov.us/publichealth or call the Public Health Clinic.
Additional information about recommended immunizations for children and adults can be found at the California Department of Public Health’s web site.
