Back to school means back to school shots

WEST POINT, Miss (WCBI) – It’s the word kids hate to hear – shots.

But with the start of school only a few weeks away pediatrician offices are starting to fill up.

“Typically July starts picking up as far as the back-to-school check-ups and shots. There is a little bit of a lull the first couple of months of the summer and then July we start to see it start rolling in again,” said Dr. Keith Watson.

Dr. Keith Watson said earlier is usually better.

“Unfortunately, with as many kids needing vaccines as they do if you wait to the last minute. A lot of times we are already booked, and it’s hard to get in, and if you don’t have the shots you can’t go to school, and then you end up missing a day or two. So we try to encourage all of our parents get the shots as early in the summer as you can,” said Dr. Watson.

It isn’t just kindergarteners. Middle school means it’s time for a booster.

“Most times schools will go ahead and start letting the six-grade students know when they are in six grade to let them know you’re going to be entering the seventh grade we need the shot,” said Danielle Spencer.

Even with the reminders, sometimes people forget.

“A lot of times people don’t submit it, or they wait to the last minute to submit it, and then at that time, there is a rush at the doctor’s offices or the health department. So there is a backlog. So we encourage everyone to go ahead and make sure their child has the Tdap shot early, and go ahead and submit that information to the school office,” said Spencer.

Several county health departments in the area will be hosting school immunization clinics next week.