Are your kids ready for school?

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jessica Pownell
  • 509th Medical Opeations Squadron
Where has summer gone? Is it already time to get ready to go back to school? The answer is "yes."

Unfortunately, the upcoming school season is upon us! That being said, you may need to add Immunizations to your checklist of things to do as a new school year will be here before we know it.

Parents and guardians registering their children for school need to ensure that their children are current on their immunizations. Missouri Law requires that children entering kindergarten through the 12th grade receive immunizations to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Not only does this protect your child at school, but also other children, teachers, staff and the entire base and local community.

The following list is what the state of Missouri mandates children have to attend kindergarten:
- DTaP/DTP/DT- Diptheria and tetanus (4+ doses)
- IPV- Polio (3+ doses)
- MMR- Measles, mumps, rubella (2 doses)
- Hepatitis B- (3+ doses)
- Varicella-Chickenpox (2 doses)

Additionally, TDaP (Tetanus Booster) is required for children entering the 8th grade
Getting your child protected and vaccinated is very easy. As long as you have a military ID you can walk into the Immunizations Clinic at the 509th Medical Group on base and ask for the vaccines your child needs. If your child has not ever received immunizations on an Air Force installation, please bring all previous shot records with you.

The Whiteman Air Force Base Immunizations Clinic operates on a walk-in basis. The hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 7:30 a.m. to noon, 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays. If you have immediate questions, you can call immunizations at (660) 687-4304.