Vaccination clinic on Saturday

Summer is nearly over for Juneau kids.  It’s back to school on Tuesday for first through 12th graders; kindergarten starts next Thursday.

That means it’s time for shots,  that little poke in the arm that allows youngsters to attend Alaska public schools.

Juneau Public Health, part of the Alaska Division of Public Health, and the Vaccinate Juneau Kids Coalition will hold a immunization clinic on Saturday.

Public health nurse Catharine Boice says most vaccines for infants, kindergarten, and older students will be available.

“There’s a list of shots that kids need if they are going into kindergarten.  D-tap (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, hepatitis B, hepatitis A,” Boice says. “When kids are going into the 7th grade they usually need a tetanus update, so we’ll have that available.”

Boice says TB testing, also required for kindergarten, will not be available at the clinic, nor will the chicken pox vaccine.  But just about everything else will.

The shots come from the federally funded Vaccines for Children program, making the clinic free to families who have no health care insurance, are eligible for Medicaid or SEARHC coverage, or those who have insurance, but it doesn’t cover vaccines.

Boice says families who have medical insurance that covers immunizations should go to their own provider.

Public health nurse April Rezendes says kids coming to the clinic must bring a parent or guardian, as well as their immunization records, so it’s clear what vaccinations they need.

No records, no shots; no parents, no shots.” 

Saturday’s clinic is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nugget Mall.

 

 

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