Drive-through immunizations available for local students | News, Sports, Jobs - Marietta Times
Photo by Michele Newbanks Liberty Wells, 12, gets her immunization shots from Barb Piehowicz, an RN at the Washington County Health Department Friday morning. Wells is entering the seventh grade this fall at Warren Middle School.
Parents of Washington County students lined up outside the county health department for a drive-through immunization clinic Friday.
“Seventh graders get two shots,” said Barb Piehowicz, an RN at the health department. “Seniors get one.”
Seventh graders are required to get a meningitis and Tdap shot, which is the tetanus, diptheria and whooping cough immunization.
“They get the shots as they are going into seventh after they get their kindergarten shots. They get a booster shot for meningitis going into senior year,” explained Val Betkoski, director of public health nursing.
She said some of the recommended immunization shots are Gardasil, which is a vaccine against HPV, and an immunization shot against meningitis B, or bacterial meningitis.
“They are recommended, but not required for kids of that age,” Betkoski said. Some colleges are now requiring immunization against meningitis B.
She said other shots, including the flu shot and the Hepatitis A shot are also not required.
With the ongoing pandemic, it was decided to hold the clinic outside.
“With the COVID virus, we figured it was better to do (a drive-through clinic) than accumulate a lot of people in the waiting area,” Betkoski said.
For those parents who prefer not to immunize their children, she said they have to provide a good reason to the school.
“If an outbreak of a preventable disease breaks out, they can’t go to school until it’s over,” Betkoski said, noting some of the preventable diseases are measles, chicken pox and whooping cough.
Immunizations are still offered by appointment on Wednesday and Friday. Call 740-374-2782 ext. 3333 for an appointment.
Immunizations should be done as soon as possible before school starts.
“Ideally, give school nurses up to mid-October (to get shots done), but that doesn’t mean parents should wait that long,” she said.
Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.
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