BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Ahead of the upcoming school year, Erie County Health officials are reminding parents of state-required vaccinations for students.
“This is an example of how we work together to protect the public’s health,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. “Here in Buffalo and Erie County we trust the science, we trust the medicine, we understand the vaccines that are being provided for children have been tested over and over and over again and are safe.”
Poloncarz says they are noticing more and more children going into public schools who do not have the required vaccines.
“It’s gotten to such a point where the Erie County Department of Health cannot do it on its own, and it’s important that it gets done as a community-wide effort,” said Poloncarz.
Erie County is partnering with the Buffalo Public Schools and the University at Buffalo’s Nursing School to hold back-to-school vaccination clinics for Buffalo Public School students.
“Children who are not fully vaccinated, we understand that they have less protection against serious illness and may risk spreading to others who cannot be vaccinated. So let’s continue to work together,” said Dr. Sharon Brown, chief of student support services for Buffalo Public Schools.
In 2019, New York State eliminated the religious exemption for vaccinations at schools, meaning only medical exemptions apply. Kindergarten through 12th grade students are required to have up-to-date immunizations by Sept. 17 to stay in school.
“Parents have a choice, they can either put their child in a public school, a private school, and be vaccinated, or they can home-school them,” said Poloncarz.
“For people and parents who want healthy kids, vaccines are really a simple choice,” said Dr. Gale Burstein, the Erie County Commissioner of Health. “Community immunity is crucial to protect those who are vulnerable.”
For any parent who is looking for more information about vaccines, Dr. Burstein recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics website here.
They state that vaccinations offered at the clinics will include all required school immunizations: DTap, DTP, Tdap, Td, Tdap, Polio, MMR, Hep B, Varicella, Meningococcal, Hib, and PCV. The COVID-19 vaccine is no longer required.
These clinics will take place at the following locations:
- Thursday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at BPS 45 International School, 141 Hoyt St.
- Thursday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at BPS 95 Waterfront, 95 Fourth St.
- Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at BPS 309 East Community High School, 820 Northampton
- Thursday, Sept. 19 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at BPS 363/415 Lewis J. Bennett/Middle Early College, 2885 Main St.
If their child’s immunization record is available, parents or guardians should bring that along with their child’s health insurance information. Students must bring a completed and signed consent form that includes any health insurance information to the clinic.
They encourage pre-registration but will accept walk-ins based on availability. To register or to learn more about the clinics, visit their website here.
Latest Local News
Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
