Shots are available at clinics for pupils

A series of walk-in clinics for pupils needing immunizations to attend school will open Tuesday in Columbia County.

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The clinics will be held at Columbia County Health Department locations in Evans, Appling and Grovetown. They will be available until Aug. 9, the first day of school, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each day.

Four- to 6-year-olds will need vaccinations for DTAP, hepatitis A and B, polio, MMR and varicella.

Recommended vaccinations for pupils ages 11 and 12 are meningococcal, hepatitis A, tetanus and acellular pertussis. A varicella vaccination is required for rising sixth-graders.

Hearing, vision and dental screenings are required for pupils entering pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.

Jonell Dalis, a nurse supervisor for the Appling clinic, said she could not estimate the number of pupils she will treat this week, but she cautioned that parents should plan at least a couple of hours for the process.

"If a child came in and didn't have to wait to get shots and hearing, vision and dental screenings, it would probably take 45 minutes," she said. "If you come in and there's a waiting room full of people, be prepared to stay a while."

Any pupils entering a Georgia school from another state must provide immunization records to the Health Department for evaluation.

Dalis said it is best for parents to collect those records and bring them to health officials.

"If we have to call to get those records, it could take a couple of days," she said. "A lot of how quickly we can move depends on how organized the parent is."

"The more organized they are, the better for us and them," Dalis said.

Clinic locations are:

- Evans, 616 Government Center Way; (706) 868-3330.

- Appling, 6420 Pollard Pond Road; (706) 541-1318.

- Grovetown, Euchee Creek Drive; (706) 556-3727.

For information, visit www.columbiacountyga.gov and find Health Department on the Emergency and Operations page under the Government tab.