Free vaccinations available before the start of the school year

The 2024-2025 school year in Montgomery County is less than a month away. Parents are already thinking about what they need to do before the first bell rings. That includes making sure their children get the vaccinations they need so they can go to school.

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is offering free vaccinations to school-age children (kindergarten through high school) at locations throughout the county through the end of September.

Any child who has not had the required vaccinations is eligible for the free shots.

“Ensuring our children are up to date on their vaccinations is critical to their health and is also required by law that students attend Montgomery County Public Schools,” said County Administrator Marc Elrich.

“We are making it easier for families by offering these free back-to-school vaccinations at multiple locations. Parents can avoid the crowds and stress of making appointments at doctors’ offices by taking advantage of these easily accessible clinics across the region,” he added.

Free shots offered

The range of vaccinations for the start of the school year includes:

• Tdap
• Meningococcal (MCV4)
• Meningococcal B
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Chickenpox (varicella)
• COVID-19

Health center locations

Parents can have their children vaccinated at the following locations:

• Dennis Avenue Health Center, 2000 Dennis Avenue, Silver Spring
• Germantown Health Center, 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown
• Silver Spring Health Center, 8630 Fenton Street, Silver Spring
• School Health Immunization Center, 4910 Macon Rd., Rockville

The County is asking parents to make an appointment. However, parents and their children may also walk in if time slots are available. A parent must bring their ID and their child’s vaccination record if available.

The state requires students ages 1 and up who attend kindergarten through high school to be vaccinated against several diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B and polio, to name a few.

Physical Examinations for Student Athletes

Vaccinations aren’t the only concern for some parents, especially if their child is a student athlete. High school students are required to pass an annual medical exam before participating in practices, competitions or fitness programs. With the fall sports season just around the corner, students who participate in those activities will need to complete their exams in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, high school students must pass a medical exam every two years if they want to participate in sports programs.

There are a number of school-based health and wellness centres in the region, where students can undergo a medical check-up if they live within the school’s postcode.

You can find a list of schools via the following link:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/PHS/SchoolHealth/SchoolBasedHealthCenter.html