Today, Multnomah County will open doors at David Douglas High School South Building for another round of catch-up vaccination clinics from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of their collaboration with Multnomah Education Service District and the local school districts to address the gap in childhood immunizations. Per details from Multnomah County's news release, the clinic is designed to serve youths between the ages of 5 and 19, offering numerous critical vaccinations free of charge regardless of insurance coverage—or a lack thereof—without needing an appointment.
The service is proving essential given the impending school exclusion date; children without up-to-date vaccination documentation may face interruption in their education as of Wednesday, February 19, in compliance with state law, there's a real urgency to ensure these children are not left behind in their schooling due to missing vaccinations. It's been reported that 5,000 families were issued school exclusion warnings earlier this month, signaling a widespread need for this health initiative within the community. A final clinic will provide a last-minute opportunity ahead of the exclusion deadline. It will be available as a walk-in clinic at the CareOregon Boys & Girls Club Rockwood.
Immunizations are recognized for their efficiency in preventing various diseases, underscoring their importance to individual health and their contribution to public safety. Among the vaccines being administered are those for the flu, DTaP/Tdap, hepatitis, HPV, and MMR, aligning with school and childcare enrollment guidelines. Approximately 109,000 students in Multnomah County are subjected to these requirements each year, contributing to a broader effort to maintain herd immunity and combat disease outbreaks.
