The Georgia Department of Public Health has scheduled a series of health clinics for students entering Georgia schools for the first time; or students returning to Georgia schools after an absence of one school year.
Free vision, hearing, dental, and nutrition screenings required for school entry will be offered at the clinics. Health screenings usually cost $30; immunizations will be available at a normal cost with most insurance plans accepted.
Students will be seen on a first come, first served basis and no appointment is necessary.
The Bryan County clinics are scheduled for July 13 and July 27, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) at the Bryan County Health Department, 430 Ledford St., Pembroke, and July 14 and July 28 from 8 a.m-4:30 p.m. (closed 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) at the Bryan County Health Department, 66 Captain Matthew Freeman Dr., Richmond Hill.
The Chatham County clinics are scheduled for July 15 and July 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chatham County Health Department, 1395 Eisenhower Dr.
Health screenings and vaccinations are for:
• Students entering a Georgia school for the first time – no matter what the grade level – must have a completed Certificate of Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition screening form on file with their school.
• Children born on or after Jan. 1, 2002, who are entering seventh grade and new entrants into Georgia schools in grades eight through 12 must have one dose of the Tdap vaccine and one dose of the meningococcal vaccine. (“New entrant” means any child entering any school in Georgia for the first time or entering after having been absent from a Georgia school for more than 12 months or one school year).
• Effective July 1, children 16 years of age and older who are entering 11th grade (including new entrants), must have one booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), unless their initial dose was administered on or after their 16th birthday.
• The HPV vaccine is also recommended for both girls and boys ages 11-12 to protect against cancers and other diseases caused by human papillomavirus.
For more information about the clinics, call 912-356-244 in Chatham County, 912-653-4331 in Pembroke or 912-756-2611 in Richmond Hill.
Barbara Augsdorfer is the education and nonprofits reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Reach her at BAugsdorfer@gannett.com or on Twitter @Babs7983.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Free back-to-school health clinics offered in Chatham and Bryan counties
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