Education

Health Department offers free back-to school shots in Marion County

Get kids vaccinated now to prevent delays as school year begins

OCALA-The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is setting up a special back-to-school immunization clinic weekdays Aug. 5-19 to help students get ready to start school.

The special clinics are scheduled for 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at 1801 SE 32nd Avenue in Ocala. No appointment is needed, and the immunizations are free for those 18 and younger. Parents should bring their child's immunization records if they have them.

New health requirements mean that children may need an additional polio vaccination before they can enter kindergarten. Children entering seventh grade require the Tdap-tetanus diphtheria and acellular pertussis-booster vaccine. Vaccination requirements include:

    Kindergarten through the fifth grade: two doses of the varicella vaccine.
    Grades six to 12: one dose of the varicella vaccine.
    Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis) vaccine is required for grades seven through 11.
    Students entering a Florida school for the first time should have two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

For a complete list of required immunizations, visit the Florida Department of Health website at www.floridashealth.com/Disease_ctrl/immune/children/. For information call the Marion County Health Department at 352-629-0137, ext. 2017.