Parents are urged to begin preparing their children now for next school year to avoid the back-to-school rush and long lines during the summer. The Florida Department of Health and Department of Education require all students entering 7th grade to have a Tdap booster (adult strength tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine. An updated Florida Certification of Immunization DH 680 Form must be presented to the school before your child can receive a schedule or enter school on the first day of classes, August 12, 2013. To assist with this requirement, the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has partnered with the Seminole County School Board to hold 6th grade Tdap clinics. Children who are entering kindergarten are also invited to the clinics to receive immunizations required for school entry.
Over 60 students have participated in two Tdap clinics held on April 4th at South Seminole Middle School and April 11th at Tuskawilla Middle School. Two more Tdap clinics are scheduled from 4:00pm to 7:00pm for April 18th at Jackson Heights Middle School located at 141 Academy Avenue, Oviedo, Florida, 32765 and May 2nd at Millennium Middle School located at 21 Lakeview Drive, Sanford, Florida, 32773. Parents are asked to bring their children’s immunization records if planning to attend these events.
While all children may receive required school vaccines through the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County, parents are encouraged to obtain their child’s immunizations from their regular doctor or health care provider. It is important for everyone to have a designated health care provider for immunizations and other health care services. Children who are uninsured and underinsured or who do not have a health care provider may visit the Central Florida Family Health Center located at 2400 State Road 415 in Sanford, Florida, 32771 or the health department.
Last March, the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County closed the immunizations clinic in Casselberry located at 132 Sausalito Boulevard due to anticipated budget cuts. Infant, child, adult and travel immunizations are provided at the health department’s Sanford facility located at 400 West Airport Boulevard, Sanford, Florida, 32773. Hours of operation for the Immunization Clinic in Sanford are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00am to 11:30am and 1:00pm to 4:00pm and Thursday 8:00am to 11:30am. The health department continues to work with private doctors and community health centers to help ensure that patients seek services through their medical providers, particularly those patients who have private insurance or are enrolled in the Healthy Kids Program and Medikids provided by the Florida KidCare program.
For more information, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County Immunizations Program at 407-665-3281 or www.seminolecohealth.com .
