Fort Myers, FL—Parents of children entering 7th grade are urged to get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for their boys and girls while updating immunizations to go back to school. Vaccines for children ages 18 and under are free at the Florida Department of Health in Lee County. They are also available at private health practitioners’ offices.

Early mornings are often DOH-Lee’s quietest time period for immunizations staff during these two weeks before school starts. Staff historically immunize well over 100 children daily. During the last week of school there can be 200 children given immunizations daily.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2013 data shows only 57.3 percent of adolescent girls and 34.6 percent of adolescent boys received at least one dose in the series of three HPV vaccines, given to prevent cancer and genital warts. CDC estimates 91 percent of girls born in 2000 could have received the vaccine if it had been administered during health care visits when other vaccines were given. Boys have only been recommended to receive the vaccine since December 2011. Health care practitioners are encouraged to recommend it to parents.

Whether requesting childhood vaccines or vaccine administration records at DOH-Lee, parents are urged to bring their children’s immunization records. The form required for school must be presented to the school in order for children to be admitted to classes, ride the bus and attend after school activities.

All immunizations are offered on a walk-in basis at DOH-Lees main office, 3920 Michigan Avenue. Extended Immunization hours are Monday through Friday, Aug. 4-18 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, immunization’s hours return to normal, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 1-3:30 on Friday. People needing travel vaccines are urged to postpone their immunizations until the end of August to avoid a long wait.

School starts Aug. 18. For more information go to www.leechd.com.