KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Over the next few weeks health departments across the metro will be busy with back-to-school immunizations.
The Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department usually sees between 1,500 and 2,000 children around this time of year to get their shots.
Depending on what grade your child is entering, there are specific immunizations they'll need.
Johnson County, Kansas, Health Department, Jackson County, Missouri Health Department and KCMO Health Department offer walk-in appointments.
The biggest recommendation health department officials have is to get in as early as you can, or be prepared to wait for some time.
"I know we've had people here waiting for about two hours, maybe a little bit over two hours just to receive their immunization and that's from walking in the door to walking out," KCMO Public Health Nurse Supervisor Jelene Wynn said. "Definitely get here now, if you can. If you have to wait until next week, until school starts, just be patient. Be patient with us."
Be sure to bring your child's latest shot records to help the process go smoothly.
"Especially if you're coming from a private physician office." Wynn said. "Not everybody enters into the state database, so it helps if you have a current record or a letter from your child's school saying this is what your child needs. If we have that, it helps the process."
Johnson County Health Services Division Director Nancy Tausz said preparedness it is a huge help.
"Because a lot of times it depends on what they had previously from what we vaccinate them with on the day they come in," Tausz said. "So it's just very helpful and we can educate them on vaccines that they need. They might just come in and say 'I just need this and that,' but they might not know that there's another vaccine that might not be required, but it's highly recommended for their student."
Click here to see which shots are provided at theKansas City Health Department, and here to see availability at the Johnson County Health Department.
At the KCMO Health Department, you'll need the following information when you go in for a vaccination:
- Picture ID
- Insurance cards
- Medicaid cards
- Shot records
- School letters
- Written consent (If you are not the parent)
At Johnson County Health Department, you'll need:
- Your child's immunization record
- Insurance card
Here are the departments' hours:
Kansas City, Missouri Health Department
- 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and Friday
- 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Thursday, with registrations closing at 12:30 p.m.
Johnson County Health Department:
- Monday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Mission - CLOSED
- Tuesday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday - 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.; Mission - CLOSED
- Thursday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Mission - CLOSED
