Aug. 6. With schools set to open Aug. 25, Mecklenburg County Public Health is reminding parents to make sure their children are up to date on required vaccinations.

All students must be current on their required vaccines by Sept. 24 or they may be excluded from school.

Last year, there was one confirmed case of measles in Mecklenburg County—the first case in North Carolina since 2018. In the event of a measles exposure, any child who is unvaccinated or has not had measles may be excluded from school for 21 days or longer to help prevent the spread and ensure safety.

“We want to make sure children have a healthy start to their school year by getting their vaccines to keep themselves and their classmates safe and protected,” said Public Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington. “It is especially important to get vaccinated before the start of school this year, as we’ve seen a rise in vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough.”

Free or low-cost vaccine options for the uninsured are available through Mecklenburg County Public Health’s Immunization Clinic.

Additional clinic hours for required school vaccines will be offered:

• Saturday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Northwest Health Department, 2845 Beatties Ford Road

• Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center, 430 Stitt Road

Evening clinic hours will also be available:

• Sept. 15–19, until 7 p.m.
  Southeast Health Department, 249 Billingsley Road
  Northwest Health Department, 2845 Beatties Ford Road