Vaccinations available at Public Health for students

El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Division is offering back-to-school immunizations for children.

Public Health can provide all childhood vaccinations required for school entry, including those needed for kindergarten entry, and the Tdap vaccine which is required for incoming seventh-graders and for those students in grades 8-12 who are transferring from another state or county.

Public Health also offers vaccines recommended for students entering college.

According to Cathy Dunbar, El Dorado County immunization coordinator, children entering prschool or a childcare setting are required to have received one dose of the Hib vaccine on or after their first birthday. The Hib vaccine protects against a particularly dangerous bacterial infection that mostly affects babies and children under age five, and can cause a severe form of pneumonia and bacterial meningitis.

Parents who do not have a health care provider and wish to have their child vaccinated through a scheduled appointment at Public Health may call the Public Health Clinic at (530) 621.6100 in Placerville or (530) 573.3155 in South Lake Tahoe. A $10 administrative fee is charged per shot at the Public Health Clinic buildings, though no child will be refused a vaccination due to an inability to pay. The Public Health Clinic buildings are located at 931 Spring St. in Placerville and 1360 Johnson Blvd., Ste. 103 in South Lake Tahoe.

Public Health is also conducting a series of free, walk-in vaccination clinics for children at designated locations throughout El Dorado County. For a list of dates and locations of the free, walk-in vaccination clinics, go online.