With a new school year approaching, the Berrien County Health Department has given parents a back to school checklist that goes beyond classroom supplies. Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller tells WSJM News you need more than pencils and paper for a child to be school ready.
“We’re here to help, just to make sure that immunizations are up to date, hearing and vision and dental screenings are completed, blood lead screenings can be conducted, and of course, sports physicals are necessary,” Miller said.
Miller says with the pandemic keeping people from going out the past couple of years, some parents have fallen behind.
“Vaccinations have been dwindling just a little bit. We haven’t seen as much as we had in the past years with things like measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, meningitis vaccines being up to date and in compliance.”
Miller says parents should follow the recommended vaccine schedules for individuals 18 years old and younger. To enroll in school, a child needs vaccination against things including measles, chickenpox, whooping cough, and hepatitis B. Miller says in the next few years, dental screenings will also be required. Anyone who wants information on what their child needs for school can contact the Berrien County Health Department.
