The Back-to-School Immunization Drive is underway at the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, and parents and guardians are being urged to bring their children in now to avoid those long lines and wait times that only get worse as the first day of school approaches.

The clinic is also extending its hours on two occasions in August to meet the high demand for back-to-school immunizations.

On Saturday, Aug. 10, the health department will hold its annual weekend back-to-school immunizations event. While the health department is normally not open on Saturdays, the immunization clinic will open that day from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Families unable to come Monday through Friday are invited to come to 2400 Troost Ave. on Saturday, Aug. 10 to get their children vaccinated in time for the upcoming school year.

Then, on Monday, Aug. 12, the immunization clinic will remain open until 6 p.m. Registration may close early depending on the number of families already in line.

“As we get closer to the first day of school, the lines for vaccinations grow longer," says Tiffany Wilkinson, Division Manager, Communicable Disease Prevention and Public Health Preparedness. “In past years, some families that came in the week before school waited up to two hours. We have also had to turn people away to come back another day because we reached capacity.”

The health department expects to immunize about 1,500 children during the back-to-school immunization rush.

Normal operating hours are:

• 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays

• 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Thursdays, with registrations closing at 12:30 p.m.

Immunizations are available year-round and free for those who qualify under the Federal Vaccine for Children program, or KCHD has a third-party service that will bill most insurance plans. Non-Kansas City residents will have a fee of $10 for the first child seen and $5 for each additional child in the same family. For those who don’t qualify for either of these options, KCHD also offers a service where you can pay for the vaccine.

The State of Missouri requires all student immunizations be up to date before the first day of school. Additionally, most school districts with schools located in Kansas City will not allow a student to attend school unless the districts have satisfactory evidence on file that the student has been immunized. Here is a list of information that residents will need to bring when they come in for vaccinations:

• Picture ID

• Insurance cards

• Medicaid cards

• Shot records

• School letters

• Written consent (If you are not the parent)