Submitted by TOGETHER!
Community partners Thurston County Public Health, Thurston County Medical Reserve Corps, Tumwater School District and TOGETHER! held an event at Michael T. Simmons Elementary on August 23 that provided required back-to-school immunizations to any Thurston County student at no cost. Besides creating easier access to necessary health care, the event assisted families in locating a primary care physician and medical home. To that end, representatives from CHOICE Regional Health Network and Sea Mar Community Health Clinics were present.
More resources and services were available to clients outside the clinic, where Thurston County Food Bank, YWCA’s The Other Bank, South Sound Reading Foundation, and Timberland Regional Library were all represented with food, hygiene items, books and library cards, respectively.
64 families were served in the immunization clinic, 63% of which were from Tumwater. Nearly 75% of survey respondents reported that they would not have had access to their required immunizations without the clinic.
Thurston County Public Health is sponsoring another no-cost immunization clinic for children through 18 years old at Olympia Group Health Cooperative, 700 Lilly Rd. NE. All are welcome to participate. You do not need to be a Group Health member, but all children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
TOGETHER! is a local nonprofit organization that engages and mobilizes families, schools and the community to advance the health, safety and success of our youth.
