School is just two weeks away for most area students, and education officials want to make sure they arrive with up-to-date vaccinations.
In Guilford County, and estimated 5,000 students will be entering sixth grade this year. As with other sixth graders across the state, they must have the Tdap booster to attend middle school in the fall.
The vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, better known as Whooping Cough. The last day students on the traditional school calendar can attend school without proof of vaccination is Sept. 23. Robin Bergeron-Nolan, director of health and counseling services for Guilford County schools, is urging parents not to wait.
“Get that booster before the first day of school,” she says. “Because we know that they'll be actively engaged working with their child on homework and that sort of thing, so let that be one less thing they have to worry about.”
State law requires that all sixth-graders get a booster shot if their last dose was less than five years ago. Bergeron-Nolan says most parents know that their elementary school kids need vaccinations, but sometimes they need a reminder about the booster.
“Students don't usually get vaccinated in middle school,” she says. “Unfortunately, unless their child is engaged in athletics and needs a sports physical, it's not on the radar for many of our parents.”
The following is a list of upcoming Tdap clinics through the Guilford County Dept. of Health and Human Services:
Locations:
Greensboro: 1100 East Wendover Avenue
High Point: 501 East Green Drive, High Point
Saturday Clinics at both Greensboro and High Point Locations:
August 23rd (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
September 20th (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
Evening Clinics at the High Point Health Department:
August 26th (4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
September 9th (4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
September 18th (4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Evening Clinics at the Greensboro Health Department:
August 28th (4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
September 11th (4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
September 16th (4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
ALL Day Clinics at both Greensboro and High Point Locations:
September 22nd (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
September 23rd (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
September 24th (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
September 25th (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
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