Beat the rush! Health District offers back-to-school immunizations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 16, 2015

LAS VEGAS – Does your 7th grader still need a pertussis booster? Is your kindergartner’s shot record up-to-date for school? The Southern Nevada Health District is urging parents to beat the back-to-school rush by bringing their pre-schoolers, kindergartners, and 7th graders for mandatory vaccinations at one of its conveniently located public health centers. For information, contact the health district’s immunization clinic, (702) 759-0850 or visit www.SNHD.info.

Parents vaccinating their child at a health district clinic should bring immunization records. Parents who cannot locate their children’s immunization records should contact their health care provider. They can also visit Nevada WebIZ, a statewide immunization registry, www.izrecord.nv.gov or call Nevada WebIZ at (1-877) 689-3249. Non-custodial adults may accompany a child, however, written consent must be provided to the health district from the parent or guardian at the time of service. An administrative fee may apply depending upon insurance status. Contact the health district’s immunization clinic for information and current administrative fees.

The health district recommends that children who have full insurance coverage for immunizations visit their health care provider and/or pediatrician. The health district accepts the following insurance plans with no co-pay: Nevada Medicaid/Check-Up, Culinary Union and Teachers’ Trust health plans, Cigna and Anthem. Immunizations are also available at clinics across the valley.

Immunizations are available Monday – Friday at all health district locations. On Saturday, Aug. 22, a special back-to-school immunization clinic is scheduled at the health district’s main facility, 330 S. Valley View from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Health district locations:

• Main Public Health Center, 330 S. Valley View Blvd.
  Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Travel vaccines will be available; clients should expect long wait times
• East Las Vegas Public Health Center, 560 N. Nellis Blvd., Suite E12, Las Vegas
  Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Henderson Public Health Center, 520 E. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson
  Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Travel vaccines will not be offered at this clinic Aug. 1-31
• Mesquite Public Health Center, 830 Hafen Lane, Mesquite
  Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

The Clark County School District requires the following vaccinations for students enrolling in public or private school: chickenpox (varicella); hepatitis A; hepatitis B; polio; tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap); and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). Parents who have recently moved to Nevada should note the chickenpox and hepatitis A vaccinations are not required in all states, so immunizations that were up-to-date in other states might not be current in Nevada. The health district also suggests a second dose of the chickenpox vaccine for school-age children as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Children entering the Clark County School District for the first time, no matter which grade they are entering, are now required to have a second dose of the chickenpox vaccine and a fourth dose of polio vaccine. If the fourth dose of polio vaccine is given BEFORE the child’s fourth birthday, it is invalid for school admission.

Children entering 7th grade must be immunized against Bordetella pertussis. The health district provides the Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) vaccine to meet the mandate. College freshmen younger than 24 years old who will live in on-campus housing at a Nevada college or university are required to receive the Neisseria meningiditis (Meningococcus) vaccine.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.