Children need vaccinations before starting school

Walk-in clinics are available in three Columbia County locations for children needing immunizations.

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Georgia law requires children ages 4 to 6 to receive certain vaccinations to enter school. Those vaccinations include DTAP, hepatitis B, polio, MMR and varicella. Recommended vaccinations include meningococcal, hepatitis A and a second dose of varicella.

"These vaccines prevent a lot of different diseases in children," said Linda Graves, nurse manager for the Columbia County Health Department.

Graves said the vaccinations stem such childhood diseases as whooping cough, chicken pox, measles and mumps.

Immunizations are available from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until Aug. 10 at county Health Department locations: 616 Government Center Way, Evans; 6420 Pollards Pond Road, Appling; and Euchee Creek Drive, Grovetown.

Also, children entering pre-kindergarten or kindergarten must receive a hearing, vision and dental screening before entering school.

In addition to the Health Department, Graves said, many area pediatricians can provide the immunizations and screenings.

Graves added that parents of pupils entering the sixth grade might want to consider giving their children booster shots and a vaccination against meningitis.

Also, children new to the area from another state must provide the Health Department with records showing what vaccinations they have received before school starts.

"Different states might have different requirements," Graves said. "They'll also need a hearing, vision and dental screening."

For information about the immunizations or screenings, call the Health Department in Evans at (706) 868-3330, in Appling at (706) 541-1318, or in Grovetown at (706) 556-3727.