The St. Joseph Health Department is encouraging students to get their back-to-school vaccinations during Teen Day on Friday.

Connie Werner is the Clinic Supervisor for the City of St. Joseph Health Department.

Werner said the Health Department, the St. Joseph School District and Mosaic Life Care met to discuss how to raise awareness of getting necessary vaccines before the first day of school.

“The St. Joseph School District has their ‘Strive for 5’… and a lot of times kids are not allowed to go to school unless they’ve had all their vaccinations. So they certainly don’t want them missing school because of not getting their vaccines in the correct time,” Werner said. “We know through history, that no matter what kind of advertisement we do, it’s human nature to wait until that last minute because there are so many things to think about that getting those shots is not high on the list until it’s the day before school.”

Werner said they came up with the idea of an awareness day to focus on giving 8th and 12th grade students vaccinations in preparation for the first day of school.

“When talking to Mosaic, they also worked with their clinics to offer more opportunities than they normally would to have easier access on that day for vaccines to target those 8th and 12th graders,” Werner said. “We offer 8th and 12th grader vaccines, along with kindergarten vaccines everyday… but we’re just trying to bring that awareness on, ‘Hey, you just had your registration, come on down and get those vaccines done so you can be done with it, you’re ready for school and move on with your day.’”

Required 8th grade vaccinations include Tdap and Meningococcal ACWY and recommended is Gardasil 9. Required for 12th grade is Meningococcal ACWY and recommended is Meningococcal B and Gardasil 9.

Werner said anyone that has a Mosaic doctor at a clinic should call them to ask about details for Teen Day on Friday, Aug. 3. The St. Joseph Health Department is open from 8 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Werner said to bring an immunization record and insurance card. Clients with health insurance or without are served.

For more information, contact the Health Department at (816) 271-4725.

The St. Joseph School District starts classes August 16th.