School is just around the corner, and we know that getting the kiddos prepped can be quite chaotic! Between shopping for the necessary first day of school outfit and getting the color coordinated notebooks (for me, science had to be green and math was always red), re coordinating bus schedules and after school activities, and attending open houses to meet the teachers; needless to say, parents, you juggle a lot of things. Another item that will pop-up on your kid's extensive back to school preparedness list is their vaccination records.

We, at public health, wanted to provide a brief reminder of the current vaccination requirements enforced by our school systems. Mower County's schools follow Minnesota Department of Health's guidelines, having either received all the required vaccines or submit an exemption prior to the child's first day of school.

Vaccines that are recommended but not required include: Influenza (flu), COVID-19, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Meningococcal B (MenB), and other vaccines to ensure that your kids are fully protected. Talk to your health care provider to learn more about these immunizations.

A copy of your child's vaccination records should be submitted to their school. You can receive this copy from your primary care clinic or request it on Find My Immunization Record .

Through the Minnesota Vaccines for Children (MnVFC) program, Mower County Public Health offers appointments for low-cost vaccines for eligible children, 0 through 18 years of age. Eligibility requirements include (1 of the following criteria):

* Medicaid eligible: A child who is eligible for the Medicaid program. In Minnesota, this includes programs such as:

-- Uninsured: A child who has no health insurance coverage.

-- American Indian or Alaska Native

-- Underinsured: A child has health insurance, but it:

* Doesn't cover certain vaccines (children are eligible for vaccines not covered by insurance), or

* Covers vaccines but has a fixed dollar limit or cap for vaccines. Once that fixed dollar amount is reached, a child is eligible.

* Underinsured children are eligible to receive vaccines at one of these public clinics: local public health clinics (LPH), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Rural Health Centers (RHC), Indian Health Service (IHS), and tribal health clinics.

Privately insured children whose health insurance plan covers vaccinations but have out-of pocket costs due to a high deductible are not eligible for the MnVFC program.

To check your child's eligibility for the MnVFC program: Can my child get free or low cost shots? For eligibility questions or to schedule an appointment, call 507-437-9782 or click here to refer your child(ren).

School is a place for learning, creativity, growth, social gathering, and giving kids the skills they need to thrive. Unfortunately, schools are also the perfect place for diseases to spread rapidly and substantially. Common places such as classrooms, playgrounds, bathrooms, cafeterias, hallways, and gymnasiums can experience large volumes of traffic each and every day. Take measles, for example. It's a highly contagious disease that can stay infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Because it's so contagious, we need a large portion of the community (at least 95%) to be vaccinated or protected against measles to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity means that when many people are immune to a specific disease, it becomes much harder for the disease to spread.