National Immunization Awareness Month is a reminder that childhood immunizations are important

For more information, contact SRHD Public Information Officer Kim Papich (509) 324-1539 or kpapich@srhd.org

SPOKANE, Wash. – Aug. 8, 2016 – Back-to-school season is here, time for parents to gather supplies and backpacks. It’s also the perfect time to make sure your kids are up-to-date on their vaccines.

To celebrate the importance of childhood immunizations and make sure children are protected with all the vaccines they need as they go back to school, Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) is joining with partners locally and nationwide in recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month. It is an important time to celebrate and bring awareness to today’s childhood vaccines, which protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases including polio, measles, chickenpox, and whooping cough.

To this end, the health district is spreading awareness about a No-Cost Immunization Clinic at Riverside Elementary School, 3802 E. Deer Park Milan Rd., on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This clinic will serve ages 2 and up and students from all schools and districts are welcome. A limited amount of adult vaccine for uninsured and underinsured will be available.

Central Valley School District, with support from Rockwood Health System, will host a No-Cost Immunization Day on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Greenacres Middle School, 17409 E. Sprague Ave. At this valley clinic, vaccines will be available for all children ages 4 to 18, regardless of school district they attend. Please note that neither this clinic, nor the Riverside clinic, will offer flu vaccine.

“Getting children all of the vaccines recommended by CDC’s immunization schedule is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children from serious diseases,” said Dr. Joel McCullough, SRHD interim health officer. “If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to plan to attend one of these clinics or check-in with your child’s provider.”

If children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk of serious infections and can spread diseases to others in their classrooms and community. To protect the health of all students, faculty and staff, Washington state law requires all public and private K-12 schools to assess the vaccination status of students before enrolling them. State law also requires that students who are not current on vaccinations (or do not have a valid exemption on file) within 30 days of the start of school be excluded until they are fully compliant. 

Anyone can register to obtain access to official immunization records for themselves or family members from Washington state’s Immunization Information System by going to Washington State Department of Health’s web page located here: doh.wa.gov/immsrecords. After registering on the site, parents and caregivers can also print a child’s Certificate of Immunization Status, a required document for school and child care entry. Once access is obtained, if a child’s record is unavailable, contact their provider to request they update the record.

More information is available at www.srhd.org. Spokane Regional Health District’s website also offers comprehensive, updated information about Spokane Regional Health District and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community. Become a fan of SRHD on Facebook to receive local safety and wellness tips. You can also follow us on Twitter @spokanehealth.