Back To School Immunizations

Health Department Offers Free Back-to-School Immunization Clinics and Extends Clinic Hours Friday, Aug. 31 to Meet Demand
-- "Tdap" Booster is Required for Sixth Grade School Entry --

August 27, 2007

The Fairfax County Health Department reminds parents that Virginia law requires school children meet specific minimum immunization requirements to enter school. Regulation compliance protects the vaccinated child as well as the general public from specific vaccine-preventable diseases and from disease complications.

This year, all children entering sixth grade are required to get a booster Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine. Exceptions are made only for children with contraindications (they cannot be vaccinated for a medical reason). Sixth graders need a Tdap booster since a child’s immunity to tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”) reduces over time after being vaccinated in early childhood.

As always, the Health Department offers free immunizations for all children at its five District Office clinics. Clinic hours are extended Friday, Aug. 31, to help parents of sixth graders comply with the Tdap booster requirement before school starts Sept. 4. All Health Department District Office clinics have walk-in hours; however, for fastest service and shortest wait, call ahead to make an appointment.

Walk-in clinic hours for all locations:

• Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Fridays,7:30 a.m. to Noon
  Friday, Aug. 31 Extended Walk-In Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Clinic locations and phone numbers (TTY for all is 703-591-6435)

• Fairfax ( Joseph Willard Health Center): 3750 Old Lee Hwy - 703-246-7100
• Falls Church: 6245 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500 - 703-534-8343
• Herndon-Reston: 1850 Cameron Glen Dr., Suite 100, Reston - 703-481-4242
• Mt. Vernon : 8350 Richmond Hwy., Suite 233, Alexandria - 703-704-6100
• Springfield : 8136 Old Keene Mill Road - 703-569-1031

Parents also can call their child’s pediatrician or other child health care provider for immunizations.

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is one of the most common respiratory diseases in teens. It causes a prolonged cough that can last weeks or months and can result in pneumonia or hospitalization. The Tdap vaccine boosts the immune system to protect not only the school child, but also vulnerable community members – specifically infants – from pertussis.

Tetanus, also called “lockjaw,” causes painful tightening of the muscles in the body. It can “lock” the jaw preventing the sick person from opening the mouth or swallowing. Diphtheria causes a thick covering in the back of the throat and can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure and death.

Recommended schedule for:
All childhood immunizations
For Tdap immunizations