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Immunizations

Immunizations or vaccinations help protect us, our children and our community from the spread of infectious diseases. Childhood immunizations (or an exemption) are required in the state of Iowa to attend school and daycare. These prevent the spread of contagious diseases including measles, polio, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough or pertussis, and diphtheria.

To obtain immunization records, contact your health care provider, Pottawattamie County Public Health, or submit a record request to the Iowa Department of Public Health Immunization Program.

Iowa Immunization Registry Information System

Back-to-School Immunization Requirements

Make sure your child is up to date on required school immunizations before the new school year. The table below outlines required and recommended vaccines by grade level.

Grade Required Vaccines Recommended Vaccines
Kindergarten
  • 4–5 doses DTaP
  • 3–4 doses Polio
  • 3 doses Hepatitis B
  • 2 doses MMR
  • 2 doses Varicella
  • Influenza
7th Grade
  • 1 dose Tdap
  • 1 dose Meningococcal
  • HPV
  • Influenza
12th Grade
  • 2 doses Meningococcal
  • Influenza

Pertussis

Pertussis (whooping cough) is very dangerous for babies less than 2 months old. The CDC recommends pregnant women receive a Tdap with every pregnancy in the beginning of the third trimester. This vaccination lowers the risk of whooping cough in babies less than 2 months old by 78%, and hospitalizations by 91%.

HPV

HPV Vaccination Prevents Cancer. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus linked to 6 types of cancer. These cancers can affect anyone. 4 out of 5 people will get HPV during their lifetime. Every year, more than 37,000 people in the U.S. are found to have cancer caused by HPV.

HPV vaccination is safe, effective, and provides long-lasting protection against HPV cancers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends giving the HPV vaccine (known as Gardasil®9) routinely to children ages 11–12 and starting at age 9 through age 26.

Resources

Find a Vaccine

Availability

Pottawattamie County Public Health provides free immunizations for children 0-18 years of age that are uninsured, underinsured, American Indian, Alaskan native, or have Medicaid.