MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As schools prepare to open their doors for fall classes, the Shelby County Health Department wants families to know its doors are open for back-to-school immunizations.
“Recently, we had an outbreak of measles in Shelby County, and a lot of cases were in people that had not been immunized,” said Shelby County Health Department health officer Dr. Helen Morrow.
The Health Department said vaccinations are an important part of going back to school. Shelby County Schools told WREG students entering kindergarten and seventh grade often forget the immunization requirements.
WREG saw chairs in the Health Department’s auditorium fill up Monday, as many families came to make sure their students are up to date.
Yaneka Owsley told WREG she will be taking college classes.
“I had to pick up my records, but they said I had to get an up-to-date shot,” she said. She showed the bandage on her arm after agreeing to get the vaccination.
Hundreds of students got their vaccinations at another back-to-school event on the University of Tennessee Health Science Center campus over the weekend.
SCS does consider exemptions for religious or medical reasons.
Nonetheless, Morrow encourages families to consider what could be at stake.
“You have to look at the loss of school time or anything for a child, the loss of work and income for a parent that has to stay home and take care of the child, and many of the diseases are not without outcomes, bad outcomes, and even death,” she said.
The Health Department does not require appointments for immunization-only visits.
Fees can range from $20 to $50, depending on how many immunizations are necessary.
The Health Department said students attending childcare facilities, pre-school, pre-kindergarten, seventh grade and higher education, as well as those who are new to the state, should receive immunizations.
Common immunizations include diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, measles, mumps and rubella.
