GREENSBORO, N.C. - It's that time of year again. Students across the nation are getting ready to head back to school.
If you're a parent, you probably already made a long back-to-school checklist to ensure your kids have everything they need for a successful school year.
Your checklist most likely includes back-to-school supplies and items, such as pencils, paper, binders, clothes, and much more.
But, did you take the time to include back-to-school vaccine appointments on your checklist?
The CDC is urging parents to get their kids vaccinated before they head back into the classroom.
Even though vaccines are often thought of as something for babies and young children, the CDC says, preteens and teens also need vaccines to stay healthy throughout the school year.
Vaccination protects preteens and teens against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, including meningitis and cancers caused by HPV infections.
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for diseases and can also spread diseases to others in their classrooms.
The CDC recommends four vaccines for boys and girls when they are 11 or 12 years old, including quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate, human papillomavirus (HPV), Tdap, and flu vaccine.
According to the CDC, quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine protects against some of the bacteria that can cause infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream infections (bacteremia or septicemia).
The HPV vaccines help protect against HPV infections that cause cancer.
Health experts say all boys and girls should finish the HPV vaccine series before their 13th birthday.
Tdap vaccine protects against three serious diseases, including tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
When it comes to the flu vaccine, preteens and teens should get vaccinated every year by the end of October, if possible.
The Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services wants to make sure your child stays healthy throughout the upcoming school year.
The Health Department is offering special back-to-school vaccination clinics for rising 7th graders.
"We hope parents will take advantage of this special opportunity to get an early start with vaccinating their 7th graders," said Vonda Pabon, RN, Nurse Manager with the Division of Public Health. "This is one less thing to think about and one less thing to do along with all of the other back-to-school preparations."
Parents are required to provide proof of up-to-date vaccinations on the first day of school entry.
A physical exam is also required for any student new to the North Carolina public schools regardless of the grade level.
The vaccination clinics will be held at the Guilford County Health Department on East Wendover Avenue in Greensboro on Saturday, August 18th, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
If you're interested in the back-to-school vaccination clinics, you must schedule an appointment for your child by calling the Health Department at 336-641-3245.
Make sure you bring your child's insurance card, including Medicaid, and your child's vaccine record to the appointment.
For more information about back-to-school vaccination , click here.