By William E. Lewis Jr. for SouthFloridaReporter.com, July 22, 2015 – Miami-Dade County schools are back in session in late August and the Florida Department of Health is reminding residents that they are offering free immunizations for school-age children, according to Lydia Sandoval, deputy director of immunizations, on Wednesday.
Florida law requires certain vaccines be administered to children prior to being enrolled in public schools or childcare.
“The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County provides back-to-school immunizations to children between the ages of two months through 18 years of age,” Sandoval told South Florida Reporter. “This program is provided free of charge and without fee to kids in need.”
While an appointment is not necessary, each child must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian and provide an immunization record.
Children unable to provide proof of immunization can obtain a copy of their D.H. Form 680 – which contains the immunizations required to attend Florida schools – through Florida SHOTS, the State Online Tracking System.
Parents can now log onto the Florida SHOTS secure server directly and print electronically certified copies of D.H. Form 680 from their home computers if their health-care provider is a participating physician. Electronically certified shot records are available for quick access with a registry-issued ID and pin number.
The free immunizations will be offered at:
West Perrine Center
18255 Homestead Avenue
Miami, Florida 33157
Mon.- Fri. (8 am – 3:30 pm)
Little Haiti Health Center
300 NE 80th Terrace
Miami, Florida 33138
Mon., Wed. & Fri. (8 am – 3:30 pm)
North Miami Clinic
14101 NW 8th Avenue
North Miami, Florida 33168
Tues. & Thurs. (8 am – 3:30 pm)
Downtown Clinic
1350 NW 14th Street
Miami, Florida 33125
Mon. – Fri. (8 am – 3:30 pm)
“Several thousand children have been immunized in Miami-Dade as a result of the Department of Health program,” Dr. Simon C. Wong, a local primary care physician, told South Florida Reporter. “Those in need should take advantage of this free program.”
Miami-Dade County schools are back in session on Monday, August 24th.
For more information or to learn about the various programs offered by the Florida Department of Health, please visit their website. To contact Miami-Dade County’s immunization program directly, please call 786-845-0550.
