Childhood Immunizations
We offer childhood immunizations to children age 2 months and older. We are a VFC provider for those who are uninsured, individuals whose insurance doesn’t cover immunizations, American Indian or Alaskan Native. Please call (515) 286-3798 to set up an appointment.
Full time Spanish translation is available. For other language speakers, we offer a language line.
Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for ages 18 years or younger
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Polk County Health Department Vaccine Policy
All parents/guardians of children who have presented for immunizations at the Polk County Health Department will be informed of the age appropriate recommended/required immunizations as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The policy of vaccinating per the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines is a best practice recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being up-to-date on all vaccinations protects both the individual and the community. At the health department, we use every clinic visit as an opportunity to vaccinate. Well-child checks, Medicaid periodicity screenings, sports physicals, and other clinic visits all serve as opportunities for children to get routine childhood vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters that are due or were missed because of disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the parent/guardian/adult declines any recommended/required immunization or request the vaccine be given on a delayed or alternate schedule, they will be referred to their healthcare provider to discuss other immunization options.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meningitis Vaccine Requirement
In 2017, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Immunization issued a new vaccine rule that requires all students entering or transferring into 7th grade and born after September 15, 2004 to show vaccine documentation of having received the meningococcal vaccine. All students entering or transferring into the 12th grade and born after September 15, 1999, will need to show vaccine documentation of two doses of the meningococcal vaccine or one dose if received when the child was 16 years of age or older.
Meningococcal disease is very serious and potentially life threatening. The meningococcal vaccine is 85 - 100 percent effective at preventing infection from the subtypes of meningococcus found in the vaccine.
Please check your child’s immunization records. By law, if your 7th grader or 12th grader is not fully immunized for meningitis, they will not be allowed to attend school, sports and school-related activities starting day 1 of the 2022 – 2023 school year. If they have not had the required vaccine, please set up an appointment with their doctor to get their vaccines up-to-date as soon as possible and before the 2020 – 2021 school year.
For more information about the vaccine: Information about the Meningococcal Vaccine