TANEY COUNTY – The Taney County Health Department reminds the public that children in kindergarten through the eighth grade are recommended and required to get immunizations before starting school this month.
The health department is offering two walk-in immunization clinics for Taney County residents next week on Tuesday, August 12 in Forsyth and Thursday, August 14 in Branson.
Both clinics will be open for immunizations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointments are needed during these times.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bring an up-to-date immunization record, and insurance documentation and information. The health department provides immunizations for uninsured children, children covered by Medicaid, and by some private insurance.
To enter kindergarten, children are required to have boosters of these immunizations prior to the first day of school:
• Dtap (diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis)
• Polio
• MMR (measles/mumps/rubella)
• Varicella (chicken pox)
It’s also recommended – but not required – that children entering kindergarten have two doses of hepatitis A vaccine.
Young people entering eighth grade are required to have:
• Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis) booster
Eighth-graders may also receive these recommended vaccinations:
• Meningitis
• HPV (human papillomavirus)
• Hepatitis A
• A second dose of varicella (chicken pox) vaccine
For more information about these vaccines and the walk-in clinics, call one of the Taney County offices, or visit http://www.taneycohealth.org.