Free vaccine clinic aimed at school children behind on their shots. $20 gift cards too

Hundreds of Tri-Cities children are behind on their required vaccinations and could be at risk of not being able to attend school, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

Because some parents are reporting difficulties getting their children vaccinated, the Benton Franklin Health District will hold a free vaccination clinic for ages 6 months to 18 years on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

It will be 2:30 to 7 p.m. at the Pasco branch of the Mid-Columbia Library, 1320 W. Hopkins St.

No appointment, insurance or proof of residence will be required. Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who should bring their child’s vaccination records.

Gift cards valued at $20 will be given out per family while supplies last, and meals also will be provided.

The Pasco and Kennewick schools each have reported that they have 250 to 300 children not up to date on required vaccines, said Heather Hill, a public health nurse who oversees clinic services for the Benton Franklin Health District, at this week’s meeting of the health district board.

Richland schools also have a high number of students who are behind on their required vaccines, she said.

Under Washington state law they must continue to make progress toward full immunization or they are required to be excluded from school, unless they are homeless. Families also may apply for an exemption.

Among public health officials concerns is the slow rise of measles throughout the United States, according to the Tri-Cities-based health district.

A week ago Public Health Seattle & King County warned that a person later diagnosed with measles was at the baggage claim area of the Seattle Tacoma International Airport the afternoon of Jan. 18 and could have exposed others there.

“Measles is highly contagious and if you don’t have immunity, you can get it just by being in a room where a person with measles has been,” said Dr. Eric Chow, communicable disease chief for public health in Seattle. “Fortunately, the measles vaccine is very effective.”

Vaccines available

The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, along with others such as the polio, chickenpox, tetanus and hepatitis B, are among required childhood vaccines available at the Tuesday free clinic in Pasco.

Some other vaccines that are recommended, but not required, also will be available. They include flu, COVID-19, meningococcal, hepatitis A and human papillomavirus vaccines.

The free clinic is being held in cooperation with the Health Commons Project, which supplied the gift cards, and the Pasco School District.

However, children from any school district are welcome at the Pasco event, including Richland. The Richland School District has provided parents with information to attend.

“We have trained nurses with more than 100 years of combined experience who are giving out the vaccines,” Hill said. “We want to make everyone’s experience who attends an easy and stress-free experience.”

The health district is planning another free vaccine clinic for children in about a month and then would like to hold some Saturday clinics in the summer to help students get up to date on their vaccines before the next school year starts.

A similar childhood vaccine clinic was held on Jan. 25 by the health district in Kennewick, where 155 were vaccinated with 289 shots.

To find vaccination records for your child, go to bit.ly/WAvaccinerecords on the internet.

For more information, call the Tri-Cities based health district at 509-460-4200.