Although summer is here, it’s never too early to begin planning for back to school.

Dallas County Community Health Educator Natalie Peters says one of those ways is by getting immunizations done early and shares that there are some vaccines that are required for kindergarten, seventh and 12th grades. She notes that there are five required vaccines to get before entering kindergarten, including DTaP or (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) along with polio, MMR or measles, mumps, and rubella; Hepatitis B, and varicella). As for seventh grade, Peters advises that there are two required vaccines with the DTaP Booster and the Meningococcal vaccine. Finally, before entering senior year of high school, Peters points out that there are two shots of the Meningococcal vaccine that are required. Peters explains why it is important to get these vaccines.

“Iowa has (public) school vaccination requirements in place to help keep our children, teachers, and school staff healthy throughout the school year. So when we reduce the risk of vaccine preventable illness being spread at school, we reduce the number of days when children are out of the classroom, at home, or not feeling well, so they’ll do better in school and they’ll tend to perform better in school if they’re not sick.”

Peters outlines that students are able to get their vaccinations from their primary care providers or through the Dallas County Health Department, 25747 N Avenue, in Adel, as long as they qualify for the “Vaccines For Children” (VFC) program. She adds that in order for students to become eligible for the VFC program, they must be enrolled in Medicaid, not have health insurance, have health insurance that doesn’t cover vaccines, or are an American Indian or Alaskan native. Any further questions can be directed to the Dallas County Health Department at (515)-993-3750.