SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) – Iowa school districts are encouraging parents to start scheduling appointments for kids to receive their required immunizations.
Students going into kindergarten, 7th, or 12th grade are required to get their booster shots before the first day of the school year.
“The boosters at these ages are because it’s been a while since they received the previous vaccine,” Siouxland District Health Department vaccine for children coordinator Sarah Blatchford said. “Your kindergartners haven’t been vaccinated since they were around one, so now they need boosters. Then, from kindergarten to seventh grade, they don’t really get any boosters so then they need another set.”
Siouxland District Health will provide vaccinations for children without health insurance, but parents should be trying to get their kid in sooner rather than later.
“Appointments book very quickly, especially 7th grade, kindergarten,” Blatchford said. “Some of those ages you also need a physical. So you’re going to have a doctor’s appointment, plus immunizations, some dental screenings are also needed.”
The Sioux City Community School District requires parents to turn in proof of immunizations and screenings before August 23.