La Crosse County Health Dept. recommends back-to-school vaccinations

Local health departments offer vaccinations

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — With the school year approaching, the Coulee Region Immunization Coalition would like to remind parents that preteens and teens need vaccinations if they are not already up to date.

Along with the flu vaccination that kids should get yearly, the La Crosse County Health Department states there are three other vaccinations that help protect preteens and teens, as well as their friends and families:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine: protects both girls and boys from infections and cancers caused by HPV. Meningococcal vaccine: protects against bacteria that can cause meningitis and blood infections; it can be very serious, even fatal.
Tdap vaccine: protects against 3 serious diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis/whooping cough.

Vaccines are available at local health departments and some pharmacies. Kids through age 18 may qualify for free vaccines at their local health department, though some may charge a minimal administrative fee.

For more information on the vaccinations, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/who/teens/vaccines/.