Besides notepads, pencils, and folders, parents are reminded of another important item to check off their back-to-school list during National Immunization Awareness Month.

Those four years and older are required by the State of Iowa to receive the diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis, polio, measles/rubella, hepatitis B, varicella, and meningococcal vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that while COVID-19 disrupted in-person learning, it also disrupted routine well-child visits for many children, with their public sector vaccine ordering data showing a 14% drop in 2020-2021 compared to 2019, and measles vaccine ordering down by more than 20%.

Washington County Public Health Clinical Nurse Manager Karri Fisher says they had a similar local impact, “We saw a real downturn during that year through the pandemic with the amount of vaccines we were giving, the amount of children that we saw in our clinics, but now that has begun a gradual upswing again. You know school is going to be starting so parents are really looking at that hard and trying to get their kids caught up. And I know the school nurses are trying to get ready for looking at vaccine records through the registration process so I’ve seen the numbers coming up.”

Washington County Public Health offers immunization clinics on the first and third Tuesdays and Thursdays of each month from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and on the second Thursday of each month from 3-6 p.m. on the third floor of the Federation Bank building, as well as from 3-5 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at the Kalona Community Center. Those 12 and older can also get the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine for free with these appointments, or families can contact their medical provider about getting back-to-school shots.