Norfolk, Va. (WTKR) -Back to school is just around the corner, but for rising 6th graders in Virginia, their first day could be sidelined if they don’t have a required immunization.
“It is required to enter the 6th grade – you cannot go to school on the first day without your t-dap shot,” explained Norfolk Immunization Director Joyce Sample.
Norfolk Public Schools say last school year, 764 sixth-graders could not start school on the first day. That was about 32% of sixth-graders.
“The trend is that a lot of parents wait until the day of school and the children are sent to the gymnasium or cafeteria and they have to be picked up and then they come in for the vaccine,” Sample explained.
The Norfolk Department of Public Health is Taking Action to make sure students are ready by offering free Tdap booster shots at special clinics.
If your child still needs to get this vaccination, NewsChannel 3 compiled this list of locations in Hampton Roads offering the shots from the websites of Public Health Departments.
Virginia Beach Department of Public Health
4452 Corporation Lane
Tuesdays and Fridays:
8:15 AM – 11:30 AM – By appointment only starting on 8/19/08
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
8:15 AM – 10:00 AM & 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Walk in only, limited number per clinic
For more information about immunizations call 518-2700.
Chesapeake
748 N Battlefield Blvd Chesapeake, VA 23320
Immunizations: Routine immunizations are available to children at no charge.
Adult immunizations are also offered.
Phone: (757) 382-8609
Norfolk Public Health Center
830 Southampton Avenue
Wednesday, August 14 and August 28, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Parents should bring their children’s immunization records, as well as documentation of any insurance coverage. For further information, please call 757-355-5666.
Routine “back-to-school” immunizations are offered at the Little Creek Public Health Center, 207 East Little Creek Road.
Monday through Friday, in morning and afternoon sessions.
Registration for the morning session is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and
registration for the afternoon session is from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For more information, please call 757-451-7510.
Adult vaccinations and school-required Tdap immunizations are also available Monday through Friday, at the Southampton Norfolk Public Health Center, 830 Southampton Avenue. Registration for this immunization clinic is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For information on these regularly scheduled vaccination clinics, call 757-355-5666.
Suffolk
135 Hall Ave Suffolk, VA 23434
Immunization clinics are being held at the health department Monday – Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 pm
Portsmouth
Portsmouth Health Department offers back to school immunizations on: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8:00 – 11:00 and 12:30-3:00. Please bring your child’s shot record.
Location: 1701 High Street, Portsmouth
Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, James City County and York County:
The Immunization Clinic is in the Peninsula Health Center
416 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23601
We are next door to Riverside Regional Medical Center.
Immunization Clinic hours are:
Monday,Tuesday,Thursday:
8:00 AM – 12:00 noon [Patients may check-in until 11:00 am]
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM [Patients may check-in until 4:00 PM]
Wednesday:
1:00 PM – 5:00PM [Patients may check-in until 4:00 PM]
CLOSED – 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Friday:
CLOSED
Hampton
Adult and Childhood Immunization Services
Victoria Center (757) 727-1172, ext. 21717
Routine immunizations for children are provided free of charge. Immunizations are provided for adults, including pneumococcal vaccine and influenza vaccine. TB Assessments are provided every day except Thursday. A fee is charged for nonroutine childhood vaccines, adult vaccines, and TB assessments and tests. The Clinic operates 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for the first Wednesday afternoon of each month and the third Thursday morning of each month. No appointment is necessary and no eligibility for services is required.
Please bring shot record, forms to be completed, insurance information, and document with legal name. Vaccines required for school in Virginia are provided free to children 18 and under. Chargeable vaccines may be paid by cash, check, Visa or MasterCard.