Free Back To School Vaccinations For Manatee County Children

Bradenton, FL – Even though the school year just recently ended, the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County wants to remind parents that it is never too early to get ready for the next school year.

DOH-Manatee is offering free vaccinations and low price physicals for students to prepare to return back to school in August. Back-to-school services will begin in July. DOH-Manatee encourages parents to have their children immunized now and avoid the immunization rush.

“Back-to-school vaccinations are an important way to protect children and families from the spread of serious infectious diseases,” said Dr. Jennifer Benice, administrator of DOH-Manatee. “I encourage parents to review their children’s vaccine record and requirements, and if needed, contact DOH-Manatee staff and schedule vaccine appointments as soon as possible.”

Free immunization services are available for children from birth to 18 years of age enrolled in elementary, middle or high school.

New and transferring students, kindergarten students and those in the seventh grade will need to provide proof of immunizations prior to school enrollment. Returning students already should have completed the required vaccine series. Students who are preparing to leave for college should also review their immunization records to make sure they are up to date.

DOH-Manatee also offers physicals for $30 with the vaccine included.

Childhood Immunization Requirements

Florida Certificate of Immunization, Form DH 680 is the only document schools are permitted to accept as proof of immunization.

Kindergarten to 12th Grade

Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTaP), 5 doses

Polio (IPV), 4 doses (the last one after age 4)

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), 2 doses

Hepatitis B (Hep B), 3 doses

Kindergarten to Seventh Grade

Varicella, 2 doses or provider verification of Chickenpox disease history on

form DH 680

Eighth to 12th Grade:

Varicella, 1 dose or provider verification of Chickenpox disease history on

form DH 680

Seventh to 12th Grades (entry or repeating, if not given previously)

Tetanus/Diphtheria & Pertussis booster (Tdap), 1 dose

Visit the Florida Department of Health website for more information on which immunizations children may need.

DOH-Manatee offers free back-to-school vaccinations Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments are encouraged and walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment, call (941) 748-0747 ext. 1269.

Image via Shutterstock

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