Vaccinations help children fight germs

The Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition will host a series of clinics to provide kids with the shots they need before starting or returning to school.

Vaccinations for mumps, hepatitis A and B, chicken pox and whooping cough, or Tdap, are among the immunizations that will be offered through Saturday , at no cost to parents.

Children must receive the appropriate vaccinations before attending school or they will be turned away. Parents should bring their shot records so that their children can receive the age- and grade-appropriate vaccines.

This year, because of an outbreak of whooping cough in California, local seventh-graders are required to get vaccinated against the disease, says Melissa Conn, chairwoman for the Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition.

Vaccinations are important for schoolchildren because they easily spread germs in a classroom setting, Conn says. They can take a bug home and spread it among family members, too.

As of July, 2009, all childhood immunization records were entered into a state registry, Conn says. So parents who can't find their children's shot records can request they be looked up at one of the coalition's immunization clinics.

For some children, this is the only opportunity they have to receive the imunizations required for school, Conn says. She anticipates that the coalition will immunize several thousand children through its free clinics.

The Southern Nevada Health District will provide immunizations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the back-to-school fair at the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road, Henderson. The cost of vaccines varies, but administrative fees are $16 for one vaccine and $25 for two or more. Parents must bring their child's shot records. For more information, call 759-0850 or visit the Health District's website at southernnevadahealthdistrict.org.

Here is the schedule for Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition clinics:

Monday , 3-7 p.m. -- Del Sol High School, 3100 E. Patrick Lane (799-6830)

Tuesday , 9 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Cashman Middle School, 4622 W. Desert Inn Road (799-5880)

Wednesday , 9 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Cunningham Elementary School, 4145 Jimmy Durante Blvd. (855-9675)

Wednesday , 10 a.m.-6 p.m. -- Culinary Health, 1901 Las Vegas Blvd. South (733-9938)

Thursday , 9 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Engelstad Boys & Girls Club, 3540 Cambridge St. (792-1388)

Thursday , 4-7 p.m.-- Teamsters Local 631, 700 N. Lamb Blvd. (792-1388)

Friday , 1-5 p.m. -- Community Outreach Medical Center, 1140 Almond Tree Lane (657-3873)

Saturday , 9 a.m.-4 p.m. -- La Opportuniad (Cashman Center), 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North (258-4540)