Montco Health Department Holding Immunization Clinics

The deadline for required school immunizations is approaching and will occur on or about April 30 for most schools. Parents must provide the school with an updated immunization record prior to the deadline or their child may not be permitted to attend school.

Parents should review their children’s vaccine status and if the child is up to date contact the school nurse with this information. If the child is not up to date, parents should contact their healthcare provider to receive the vaccine.

To help parents and caregivers who do not have a family physician or health insurance meet the requirements, the Montgomery County Health Department is holding four evening immunization clinics for school-age children.

Immunizations are free of charge. Parents/Caregivers will receive a screening questionnaire from the school nurse and can pre-register online for the clinic they will be attending. The link for pre-registration is available on this webpage: http://health.montcopa.org/health/cwp/view,A,3,Q,85268.asp.  Only students with paperwork from the school nurse will be admitted to these clinics.

Thursday, March 22

    4 – 7 p.m.

Eisenhower Middle School
1601 Markley Street 
Norristown, PA  19401

Thursday, April 12

    4 – 7 p.m.

Abington Junior High School
2056 Susquehanna Road
Abington, PA  19001

Thursday, April 19

   4 – 7 p.m.

Spring-Ford 9th Grade Center
400 South Lewis Road 
Royersford, PA  19468

Thursday, April 26

   4 – 7 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church
1000 West Main Street
Lansdale, PA  19446

Vaccinations available at these clinics will include Varicella (chicken pox), Meningococcal (MCV), and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). 

If the child needs vaccines other than those listed above, parents should call their local health center to make an appointment.

Norristown Health Center- 610-278-5145

Pottstown Health Center- 610-970-5040

Willow Grove Health Center- 215-784-5415

The new vaccine requirements are:

For ATTENDANCE in all grades in 2011/2012, children need the following:

• 4 doses of tetanus*

(1 dose on or after the 4th birthday)

• 4 doses of diphtheria*

(1 dose on or after the 4th birthday)

• 3 doses of polio
• 2 doses of measles**
• 2 doses of mumps**
• 1 dose of rubella (German measles)**
• 3 doses of hepatitis B
• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or history of disease

 *Usually given as DTP or DTaP or DT or Td

**Usually given as MMR

 Additionally, children ATTENDING 7th grade in 2011/2012 need the following:

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) (if 5 years has elapsed since last tetanus immunization)
• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)

Information about the new Pennsylvania immunization requirements was sent to health care providers and schools earlier this school year. For questions about school policies or health examinations, contact the local school system.

The full list of immunization requirements effective Aug. 1 for the 2011-2012 school year is available here. 

For general information about vaccines, visit the CDC website or the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia website.