ACHD to Hold Free Vaccination Clinics for Students

It is estimated that around 30,000 students in Allegheny County between kindergarten and 12th grade lack some of the required school vaccinations. That number is down from 62,000 this fall. Schools can permit students to attend school without all the vaccinations until the end of this school year. However, next fall all students must be up to date on all immunizations including meningitis, chicken pox, mumps, and tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis. To help get kids caught up with vaccinations, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) will host four free vaccination clinics from 4-7 p.m. on March 17, 19, 24, and 26 at their office located at 3441 Forbes Avenue in Oakland. ACHD spokesman Guillermo Cole says it’s important to get kids up to date with their immunizations as some schools could begin to exclude students as early as late April and early May. As an incentive, the Health Department is offering a coupon for a free dessert from McDonald’s in Oakland to all children who receive vaccinations.