Caroline Tucker
WMAL
Montgomery County – (WMAL) Thousands of incoming 7th graders are not ready for school in Montgomery County.
That’s because they have not shown proof of their vaccinations.
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 4,000 students have not filed the paperwork in time.
The new school year begins on Monday, August 29.
“Each year since this law went into effect we have had roughly this number at the end of June,” said Mary Anderson, a spokesperson with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
Anderson says there is at least a 10 day “grace” period for students to provide proof.
Families can attend a vaccination clinic this weekend, if their child still needs a shot.
“We are offering free vaccinations this weekend,” said Anderson.
New vaccination requirements were announced in 2014 that require students to have one Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-attenuated pertussis) and one meningococcal (MCV4) vaccination.
Anderson says there are some exemptions made for medical or religious reasons.
Saturday’s free clinic is scheduled from 10 am – 1 pm. It will be held at the Dennis Avenue Health Center in Silver Spring, MD.
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(Photo: CNN)
