As Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing again since a decline in June, Washington County Public Health urges children 12 years and older to get vaccinated before the school year begins.

Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski says vaccination rates for the county have dramatically lowered, with 45.2% of residents fully vaccinated as of Tuesday. She says the total number of vaccines given by the county is 19,718, which includes those who have started a two-dose series, completed the series, or received a single-dose vaccine, “But I think what concerns me the most is the numbers when we look at our younger population. So in Washington County, only 499 vaccines have been given to those 12-15 years of age. Three hundred and fifty two have been given for people who are 16-17 and 390 have been given to people who are 18-19.”

Pettit-Majewski encourages parents of those 12 years and older to ask their physician about getting the COVID-19 vaccine while they’re getting other required immunizations and annual physicals. COVID-19 vaccines are free and don’t require a two-week separation from other immunizations.

The urgency for vaccination comes as the American Academy of Pediatrics recently advised that all students over two years old along with staff wear masks at school regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to schools that those two and older who aren’t fully vaccinated wear masks for students, teachers, and staff.