Aug. 4, 2023

Add immunizations to your back-to-school checklist

With the first day of school around the corner, now is a great time to make sure your family is up-to-date on vaccines.

Immunizations are free for all Washington children younger than 19. Health insurance is not required.

Vaccines are safe and help protect children from a wide range of diseases like measles, mumps, tetanus, chickenpox, whooping cough, and hepatitis. 

Childhood immunization rates dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's important to catch up on missed check-ups an immunizations so we can keep our families and our community as healthy as possible heading into the fall and winter. 

WHAT VACCINES DOES MY CHILD NEED? ✔️ Learn about vaccines recommended by age group. ✔️ Find information about vaccines required for school and childcare attendance.

How to check immunization records

There are several ways to check you family's immunization records: 

• Contact your family's healthcare provider. 
• Use the MyIR portal to access records online. 
• Visit a local pharmacy or clinic. 
• Contact Kitsap Public Health District: 
  • Stop by our office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 345 6th Street, Suite 300, in Bremerton. 
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Call: 360-728-2007

Find immunizations near you

There are many opportunities to take care of back-to-school immunizations. To find an appointment, you can:  Contact your family's healthcare provider. Contact a pharmacy near you.  Contact your school to learn about back-to-school immunization events that might be planned.

FREE COMMUNITY BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS

Upcoming opportunities to get your family ready for the school year.

Back to School Clinic | Suquamish, Aug. 9

What: A back-to-school health clinic hosted by Kitsap Public Health District, the Suquamish Tribe, and the sate Department of Health's mobile Care-A-Van clinic.  When: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Aug. 9 Where: Chief Kitsap Academy, 16301 Creative Drive NE, Poulsbo. Services include:  Childhood vaccines COVID-19 vaccines Blood pressure screening Glucose screening

Back 2 School Bash | Bremerton, Aug. 12

What: A back-to-school resource fair and clinic hosted by Marvin Williams Recreation Center and Peninsula Community Health Services. When: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Aug. 12 Where: Marvin Williams Recreation Center, 725 Park Ave., Bremerton.

DocLuvTheKids Day | Bremerton, Aug. 26

What: A back-to-school fair and clinic hosted by DocLuvTheKids and Peninsula Community Health Services. When: noon-3 p.m., Aug. 26 Where: 1748 NE Riddell Road, Bremerton.

To learn about more upcoming back-to-school events, contact:

• Peninsula Community Health Services through web chat at pchsweb.org or 360-475-3099. 
  
  
• Kitsap Public Health District's immunization team at [email protected] or 360-728-2007.

More resources

• CDC's Vaccines for Your Children: Diseases & Vaccines that Prevent Them guide
• CDC's Child and Adolescent Vaccine Assessment quiz page
• Vaccines for Children no-cost program information page
• Washington State Department of Health's Vaccine Safety page

Thank you!

Thank you for keeping your family up to date on immunizations. Together we can protect our families, schools, and community!