County Schools to Hold Free Immunization Clinic

Prince George’s County Public Schools will hold hold free immunization clinics on Saturday.

The State of Maryland requires all kindergarten students to receive two doses of the chickenpox vaccine, also known as the varicella vaccine. Students entering seventh grade are required to get one dose of the TDaP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) vaccine and one dose of the meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, has been on the rise in neighboring Montgomery County recently. Fifteen students in public schools have been treated for the contagious disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, pertussis spreads easily from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Patients are generally treated with antibiotics, which are used to control the symptoms and to prevent infected people from spreading the disease. Vaccination can often prevent the disease.

Failure to provide verification of proper vaccinations by Tuesday, Sept. 16, will result in students being kept out of school until they get the vaccines.

The free clinics will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at these locations:

• Bladensburg High School, 4200 57th Avenue, Bladensburg
• Fairmont Heights High School, 1401 Nye Street, Capitol Heights
• Northwestern HIgh School, 7000 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville
• Oxon Hill High School, 6701 Leyte Drive, Oxon Hill

Patch file photo