Contact:
Christopher Tittel
Communication Director, DOH-Manatee
(941) 720-6145

Bradenton, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) encourages parents to beat the rush and get their children vaccinated and have school physicals completed well ahead of the first day of class.

Manatee County schools open Aug. 10.

DOH-Manatee will offer back-to-school vaccinations by appointment only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.

Vaccinations will also be offered by appointment only between 8 a.m. and noon on two Saturdays in August (Aug. 5 and Aug. 12).

To schedule an appointment, call (941) 748-0747 and select extension 0.

A walk-in vaccination clinic will also be offered 1-4 p.m. on Aug. 8.

All vaccinations will be given at DOH-Manatee, located at 410 Sixth Avenue East in Bradenton.

DOH-Manatee offers no-cost immunization services for eligible children through the age of 18. 

Physicals are $45 per child.

DOH-Manatee reminds parents that kindergarteners, seventh-graders and new and transferring students must provide proof of immunization to enroll in Manatee County schools.

A Florida Certificate of Immunization, Form DH 680, is the only document that Manatee County schools are permitted to accept as proof of immunization. These forms can be obtained at DOH-Manatee or through a health care provider.

“Vaccinating schoolchildren against a variety of vaccine-preventable diseases helps parents and guardians protect the health not only of their children, but also the health of their classmates and the community at large,” said DOH-Manatee Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Bencie. “We ask all parents and guardians to make sure immunizations are up-to-date and, if needed, to contact their child’s physician to schedule vaccination appointments or visit us here at the health department. The sooner parents and guardians take action, the better.”

Students enrolled in institutes of higher learning should check with their college or university to ensure they follow that school’s immunization requirements. To avoid the back-to-school rush, students should get these shots as soon as possible.

Public/Nonpublic Schools: K-12

Children entering, attending or transferring to Florida schools must have:

• four or five doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis/whooping cough),
• four or five doses of IPV (inactivated polio virus),
• two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella),
• three doses of hepatitis B,
• one tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) and
• two doses of varicella (varicella vaccine is not required if there is a history of varicella disease documented by the health care provider).

Additional Immunization Requirements to Enter Seventh Grade

In addition to compliance with all other immunization requirements, children entering, attending or transferring to the seventh grade in Florida schools must complete the following:

• One tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap)

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About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.