SJSD students able to attend vaccination clinics through City partnership

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph Health Department is partnering with the St. Joseph School District to help middle and high school students get up to date on required vaccinations ahead of the next school year.

This spring, city health nurses will administer vaccines at all four SJSD middle schools and three high schools during school hours, giving families a convenient opportunity to meet state immunization requirements early and avoid the annual back-to-school rush.

Students are required to have certain vaccinations before the attend classes in the fall. The initiative specifically targets seventh grade students and high school juniors who need updated immunizations.

A news release from the City detailed that the school district has identified approximately 600 students in need of vaccinations, through a state database. SJSD has sent consent forms home with those in need of vaccinations.

The City said parents and guardians do not need to be present at the school clinics; however, all forms must be fully completed, signed by a parent or guardian and returned before the scheduled clinic date in order for students to participate.

"It's an easy, early opportunity for families to avoid the back-to-school scramble to get these vaccines," St. Joseph Health Department Director Debra Bradley said. "If we could get even a quarter of the students needing these taken care of, it would help relieve some of the crowds we see before school starts. It helps the families, the schools and us."

The Health Department said it experiences a surge of last-minute vaccination appointment in the week leading up to the start of school, often resulting in long wait times. The initiative aims to ease the burden for both families and healthcare providers.

Different vaccines are required for both the middle and high school levels, which the Health Department will be offering. Parents can indicate on the consent forms which vaccines they would like their child to receive.

Middle school students will be offered the required Tdap and MCV4 (meningitis) vaccines, as well as the optional HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine.

High school students will be offered the required MCV4 (meningitis) vaccines as well as the optional Meningitis B and HPV vaccine.

Clinics are already scheduled at SJSD's middle and high schools:

• 8 to 11 a.m. on March 31 at Benton High School
• 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on March 31 at Spring Garden Middle School
• 8 to 11 a.m. on April 2 at Truman Middle School
• 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on April 2 at Bode Middle School
• 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 7 at Central High School
• 8 to 11 a.m. on April 9 at Lafayette High School
• 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on April 9 at Robidoux Middle School

City health clinic services at the Patee Market Health Center will not be available during when the school clinics are held; however, the remaining services at Patee Market Health Center will not be impacted and services will continue as scheduled.

Families with questions, or wanting more information are encouraged to contact their child's school nurse or the City of St. Joseph Health Department at 816-271-4725.