Press Release
Date: May 11, 2016
Get your Children Up to Date on Immunizations!
Kindergarten registration is already underway in several school districts in Mendocino County even though school won’t start for entering kindergartners until the middle of August. Immunizations should be on parents’ back-to-school checklists. Immunizations protect students and prevent the spread of serious diseases such as measles.
This fall, all children entering public or private school in California for the first time will be required to have certain immunizations. There is no longer a Personal Belief Exemption for children entering kindergarten or seventh grade. Children now in elementary school who already have a Personal Belief Exemption will be able to use that until they enter seventh grade. Visit http://www.shotsforschool.org/ for more information on school immunization requirements.
Immunizations are available from your child’s usual physician or clinic. The cost of vaccines should not be a barrier. Vaccines are covered by most health insurance. If they are not covered, or if your child does not have insurance, many children qualify for free vaccines under the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. In addition, Public Health will hold “back-to-school” immunization clinics for VFC-eligible children this summer in preparation for the start of school in August. Please call the Mendocino County Public Health Immunization Program at (707) 472-2600 for more information.
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