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Westchester Offers Free Back-To-School Shots

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Westchester County Health Department will offer free immunizations to children who are uninsured or whose insurance doesn’t cover vaccines.

The Westchester County Health Department is offering free back-to-school shots.

The Westchester County Health Department is offering free back-to-school shots.

Photo Credit: File

]The vaccines will be available by appointment on Fridays in August and September at Health Department clinics in White Plains and Yonkers.

“To help your children get the most out of school, they need to be in school,” County Executive Rob Astorino said. “Vaccines help children stay healthy throughout the school year. Summer seems to fly by, so now is a good time to schedule those back-to-school checkups.”

During the county’s back-to-school vaccine clinics, health navigators will be on hand to help parents and guardians sign their children up for the health insurance they need. Families without a regular doctor also will receive information about where to go for ongoing pediatric primary care.

Appointments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis for vaccine clinic sessions scheduled through Sept. 25 at the Department of Health clinics in Yonkers and White Plains.

To schedule an appointment for school vaccines at the clinic in Yonkers at 20 S. Broadway, call 914-231-2500. The dates are: Aug. 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

To schedule an appointment for school vaccines at the clinic in White Plains at 134 Court St., call 914-995-5800. The dates are: Aug. 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sept. 18, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler emphasized the importance of measles vaccination. “Immunizing your children on time against vaccine-preventable diseases like measles is critical,” she said.

Since January, 178 people of all ages have been diagnosed with measles nationwide, and a woman in Washington State died of this disease on July 2, the first measles-related death in 12 years. Measles is highly contagious even before the rash starts and is easily spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.

Regulations for school admissions require schools to more closely scrutinize children’s immunization records and could result in a child not being allowed to start or continue in school if immunizations are not current. 

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