Pennsylvania Department of Health to Offer Vaccination Clinics as School Immunization Deadline Approaches

New Regulations Require Up-to-Date Vaccinations for All Students

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reminding parents and caregivers of the upcoming deadline to ensure school-aged children have had all required immunizations.

"When the current school year began, families were given an eight-month provisional period to get their students up-to-date with their vaccinations," said Dr. Eli Avila, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. "This period is coming to an end, so we are reminding families to make sure school-aged children are immunized."  

New immunization regulations that took effect last August require children in all grades to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine as well as a second dose of the chicken pox vaccine.

They also require students in seventh grade to have one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and one dose of the tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). All vaccines also need to be appropriately spaced to be considered valid.

To help parents and caregivers meet the deadline, the department will be providing free immunization clinics during the week of April 9. Students will need to be registered by March 30. To register for an appointment in your area, visit www.padohclinicappt.com.

Individuals can also call 877-PA HEALTH (877-724-3258) for additional information. The most recent copy of the student's vaccination history must be provided at the time of the appointment. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

While the department established the new regulations, enforcement is up to individual school districts. The regulations were developed upon recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. To review the regulations, visit www.health.state.pa.us/immunizations.

Editor's Note: The following vaccination clinics are being hosted by the county-municipality health departments in conjunction with the Pa. Department of Health's outreach. The vaccinations are offered free of charge.

Bucks County

Bucks County Department of Health
Doylestown Office
1282 Almshouse Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
April 21, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
For more information, call 215-345-3318. An appointment is not necessary.

Bucks County Department of Health
Levittown Office
7321 New Falls Road
Levittown, PA 19055
April 28, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For more information, call 267-580-3510. An appointment is not necessary.

Chester County

Chester County Health Clinic
601 Westtown Road
West Chester, PA 19380
This location has multiple days and times available. For more information, call 610-344-6252. An appointment is not necessary on any of the clinic days:

April 9, 2:30 – 7 p.m.; April 10, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; April 11, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; April 13, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Erie County

Erie County Department of Health
Corry Office
43 Washington St.
Corry, PA 16407
April 10, 8:45 – 10:30 a.m.
To register for an appointment, call 814-663-3891.

Erie County Department of Health
Satellite Clinic located at Union City's St. Vincent Health Center
130 N. Main St.
Union City, PA 16438
April 11, 9:30 – 11: a.m.
To register for an appointment, call 814-663-3891.

Erie County Department of Health
Erie Office
606 W. Second St.
Erie, PA 16507
April 12, 8:30 – 11 a.m.
To register for an appointment, call 814-451-6700.

Montgomery County

Abington Junior High School
2056 Susquehanna Road
Abington, PA 19001
April 12, 4 - 7 p.m.
To register for an appointment, visit www.health.montcopa.org or call 610-278-5117.

Spring-Ford Ninth Grade Center
400 S. Lewis Road
Royersford, PA 19468
April 19, 4 - 7 p.m.
To register for an appointment, visit www.health.montcopa.org or call 610-278-5117.

Trinity Lutheran Church
1000 W. Main St.
Lansdale, PA 19446
April 26, 4 - 7 p.m.
To register for an appointment, visit www.health.montcopa.org or call 610-278-5117.

Northampton and Lehigh counties

Donegan Elementary School
1210 E. Fourth St.
Bethlehem, PA 18015
April 12, 4 - 6 p.m.
To register for an appointment, call 610-865-7087. For more information, visit www.bethlehem-pa.gov/health. 

Note: a second clinic will take place April 30. Times and locations are yet to be determined.

Media contact: Christine Cronkright or Holli Senior, 717-787-1783

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health