Summer time for back-to-school vaccinations

Summer is a good time to make sure children are up-to-date on immunizations for school, says the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

California child care centers, preschools, public schools, and private schools are required by law to check immunization records. The checkpoints are for all new students, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and seventh graders.

Children who had a valid personal belief exemption filed before 2016 and are going to be entering the new grade span of transitional kindergarten, kindergarten and seventh grade will have to meet age-appropriate immunization requirements for admission into primary or secondary school. If a child is unable to be immunized due to medical reasons, a written statement from a licensed doctor is required in order to be exempt from immunization requirements.

Failure to complete the required documentation or keep immunizations up-to-date could prevent a child from attending school on time.

For more information call your health care provider, visit the Shots for School website, the Fresno County health department website or call the health department at 559-600-3550.

This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Summer time for back-to-school vaccinations."