By RYAN SKAITH
The City of St. Joseph Health Department and the St. Joseph School District are teaming up this spring to launch an in-school vaccination initiative aimed at streamlining state-mandated immunization requirements for students.
City health nurses will visit all four SJSD middle schools and three high schools to administer vaccines during school hours. The program is designed to help families avoid the traditional "back-to-school rush" by completing necessary paperwork and shots months before the fall semester begins.
The initiative specifically focuses on current seventh graders and high school juniors, who are the primary groups requiring updated immunizations under Missouri state law.
Using state databases, the district has identified approximately 600 students currently lacking required shots. Consent forms have already been sent home with these students.
While guardians do not need to be present during the clinics, students must return a fully completed and signed consent form before their school’s scheduled clinic date to participate.
Parents may use the consent form to select which vaccines their child receives. The following will be offered:
- Middle School: Required Tdap and MCV4 (meningitis); optional HPV.
- High School: Required MCV4 (meningitis); optional Meningitis B and HPV.
The clinics will operate on the following dates and times:
March 31: 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Benton High School
March 31: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Spring Garden Middle School
April 2: 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Truman Middle School
April 2: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Bode Middle School
April 7: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Central High School
April 9: 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Lafayette High School
April 9: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Robidoux Middle School
St. Joseph Health Director Debra Bradley noted that the department typically sees a massive surge in appointments the week before school starts, leading to long wait times and logistical stress for families.
"If we could get even a quarter of the students needing these taken care of, it would help relieve some of the crowds we see before school starts," Bradley said. "It helps the families, the schools, and us."
On the dates listed above, the City Health Clinic at Patee Market Health Center will be closed. All other non-clinic services at Patee Market will remain available and unaffected.
For more information, families can contact their school nurse or the City of St. Joseph Health Department at 816-271-4725.