There is no grace period for seventh and 12th grade students needing the meningitis vaccine.

Students getting ready to go back to school this week will need to have their vaccine records ready. Washington County Public Health Nurse Lynn Fisher says it’s been a busy time the last couple of weeks giving vaccines and explains the new requirement, “For the seventh graders and the 12th graders that meningitis vaccine is required to start that grade and there isn’t a grace period. The way the Iowa law is written there isn’t a grace period. So those students will need those vaccines the first day of school, seventh graders and 12th graders.”

Fisher says meningitis is a serious disease, “It infects the blood, the spinal cord, and the brain. It can go very quickly, it progresses very quickly. It can be deadly, or if a person survives they’re left with sometimes loss of limb, mental cognitive issues, deafness. Very serious, very rapidly progressing disease.”

Washington County Public Health can help parents check their children’s records. If a child needs a vaccine, parents should contact their primary care provider or public health to schedule an appointment. Fisher adds,”We decided we definitely want to help with that, so we want to open up more clinics.” They are open Monday 9-10 a.m., 1-2 p.m. and Tuesday 9-11 a.m. 1-3 p.m., call 653-7758 for more information or to schedule an appointment.