Parents can trim $30 from the cost of having their children vaccinated at three special back-to-school clinics Aug. 18-20 in Sequim and Port Angeles.
Health officials hope the clinics — and vouchers for later immunization visits — can head off a repeat of last winter’s measles outbreak — or an outbreak of any communicable disease.
The string of six measles cases caused the death of one young Clallam County woman and cost public agencies at least $227,000.
The schedule of the special clinics:
■ Sequim: 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday next week, Sequim Middle School, 301 W. Hendrickson Road.
■ Port Angeles: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, Stevens Middle School, 1139 W. 14th St.
Middle schools were chosen for the clinics because their students now are required to receive booster immunizations for chicken pox (varicella), said Iva Burks, Clallam County Health and Human Services director.
Clinicians also will provide vaccinations for tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis); measles, mumps and German measles (rubella); and measles, mumps and rubella plus varicella.
The vaccinations are free for children younger than 18, but Clallam County Health and Human Services charges an administration fee of $23 per shot.
People visiting the special clinics, however, will not be charged the usual $30 clinic-visit charge.
They also can obtain vouchers to waive the $30 clinic fee if they subsequently visit the county’s usual vaccination clinic, which is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Wednesday at 111 E. Third St., Suite 1-A.
Call 360-417-2364 for details.
“We hope that by encouraging the vaccinations, we can get the countywide rate up,” Burks said.
At Clallam County’s special clinics, Medicaid will be billed directly. For other insurers, parents will receive receipts after paying for vaccinations by cash or check.
Jefferson clinics
Jefferson County Public Health is adding staff to its normal immunization clinics from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 615 Sheridan St., Port Townsend, in Castle Hill Mall during the runup to the start of school.
Fees are on a sliding scale. No appointments are needed. Call 360-385-0400 for details.
Students also can receive vaccinations at the school-based clinic at Chimacum High School and Port Townsend High School.
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Reporter James Casey can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jcasey@peninsuladailynews.com
