City's Health Department promotes National Immunization Month

August 1, 2024
Health

August is National Immunization Awareness Month and the start of back-to-school kickoff time. The Minneapolis Health Department is using this opportunity to draw attention to the importance of fully vaccinating children. The Health Department’s Maternal Child and Adolescent unit is continuing its efforts to increase access to vaccines and reduce vaccine hesitancy with its series of free community vaccination clinics.

Back-to-school vaccines

As caregivers get their children ready to head back to school, ensuring their vaccinations are up to date should be at the top of the checklist.

Nearly 40% of Minneapolis Public School children are behind on their childhood vaccines. So, the Health Department is encouraging parents and guardians to talk with their healthcare provider to review and update their child’s immunizations. It can help your family avoid missing:

  • School
  • Activities
  • Work
  • Family events
  • Vacation

“While we offer free vaccination clinics year-round, the month of August is crucial to reach those who need to get caught on their routine vaccinations, especially school-age children,” says Minneapolis Health Department Director of Public Health Initiatives Luisa Pessoa-Brandão. “Now is an important time to check your child’s vaccination status to catch up if they are behind on immunizations. Add vaccinations to your back-to-school shopping list this year.”

How to check your child’s vaccination status

Minneapolis child and adolescent vaccination numbers need boosting

  • Approximately three in five (60%) Minneapolis teenagers are not up to date on their adolescent vaccines.
  • Minneapolis kids are well below the target set by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for starting measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines.
    • The CDC wants 95% of kids to have their first shot by kindergarten, but only 62% of Minneapolis kids from birth to 4 years old have had their first measles shot.
    • 71% of kids ages 5-9 up to date on measles, and only 60% of 4-year-olds getting their first measles shot.

Free community vaccination clinics

The Health Department and its partners are hosting their first August vaccination clinic tomorrow at Centro Tyrone Guzman.  

  • When: Friday, Aug. 2 from 2-4 p.m.
  • Where: Centro Tyrone Guzman, 1915 Chicago Ave.
  • Vaccines available:
    • Childhood vaccinations (0-18), Adult vaccines (Tdap, MMR) (uninsured)
    • COVID (12+), STI/HIV testing (13+)

“Updating your child’s vaccines today can prevent future illness and the financial burden of medical costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases,” says Sebastiana Cervantes, Senior Public Health Specialist, Minneapolis Health Department.

Resources

Outreach success

After the pandemic, the City’s Maternal Child and Adolescent health unit significantly increased the number of clinics and free vaccines provided to the community. It partnered with local healthcare providers and community organizations to provide a “one-stop shop” for community members and adjusted its clinics to meet community members where they live. The Health Department, with partners, has hosted the following number of clinics since 2022:

  • 2022: 41 clinics, 1,217 COVID-19 vaccinations
  • 2023: 52 clinics, 1,049 COVID-19, 239 flu vaccinations and 673 Mpox vaccinations
  • 2024: 28 clinics, 247 COVID-19, 59 flu, 463 Mpox, and 9 MMR vaccinations as of July 30

The City of Minneapolis Health Department partners with M Health Fairview, Hennepin County, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minneapolis Mpox Taskforce on its vaccination clinics.

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