OCALA -- Parents have an opportunity to get one back-to-school task marked off their lists soon--getting school immunizations. The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is offering several back-to-school immunizations clinics in the weeks ahead to ensure students can get their needed shots before classes start.
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The department will be providing immunizations:
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- Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County (1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala)
- Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sparr Baptist Church (1303 E. Highway 329, Citra)
- Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the E.D. Croskey Center (1510 NW 4th St., Ocala)
- Saturday, Aug. 3, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County (1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala)
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- Saturday, Aug. 10, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County (1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala)
- Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Horizon Academy (365 Marion Oaks Drive, Ocala)
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Students entering kindergarten or attending or transferring to a Florida public school need the following vaccines:
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- Four or five doses of DTaP (diptheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis)
- Four or five doses of IPV (inactivated polio vaccine)
- Two doses of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella)
- Three doses of hepatitis B
- Two doses of varicella (unless a history of varicella is documented by a healthcare provider)
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All students entering seventh grade must have a Tdap booster (tetanus-diptheria-acellular pertussis). College immunization requirements can vary; entering students should contact their schools to see what is required. More information about requirements can be found at www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/children-and-adolescents/school-immunization-requirements.
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When coming to get immunizations, individuals need to bring government-issued photo ID and all immunizations and travel records. A parent, guardian or individual who has power of attorney for medical consent must accompany anyone under age 18. A step parent, grandparent, adult sibling of the minor, or an aunt or uncle can bring a minor child in for immunizations if they have written consent from the parent, legal guardian, or individual with power of attorney for medical consent; the parent, guardian or individual who has power of attorney must be reachable via telephone in this situation.
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The Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines at no cost for children up to age 18 if the child is eligible for Medicaid, uninsured, underinsured (e.g. insurance doesn't cover vaccines) or an American Indian or Alaskan Native.
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For more information, call the Department of Health in Marion County's Immunizations Clinic at 352-644-2695 or 352-644-2770.