A Ward 3 guide to back-to-school immunizations

The required DC school immunizations, listed by age. Click the image to view the document.

by Marlene Berlin

Before they can send their kids back to school, DC parents and guardians need to do some homework.

DC law requires that students attending public, private and charter schools be up-to-date on their immunizations, which for students ages 12 and up now includes Covid-19 vaccinations. Families must also have healthcare providers fill out medical and dental assessment forms, which are another annual enrollment requirement. The assessment forms (which include the vaccination record) are due 20 days after the first day of school at DC Public Schools: August 29th.

Many in our neighborhood have family pediatricians and dentists, DC Public Schools and DC Health recommend using your family’s existing providers whenever possible. But you might be new to the area, or need otherwise assistance getting the medical and dental services required for enrolling in your child’s school. This article is for you.

Free pediatric vaccines at school-based health centers and mobile units

As we mentioned above, the immunization requirements apply to all students attending school in the District, no matter what type of school they attend. And these free vaccination clinics are open to all of them.

The seven DCPS school-based health centers are providing vaccines by appointment on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The closest one to our area is at Roosevelt High School (4301 13th Street NW). This clinic is operated by MedStar, and you can call 202-727-6333 to make an appointment or book online.

DC Health is also sending its mobile vaccination clinic to DCPS and charter schools this month and in September. You can see the locations and schedule on the online registration form. Advance registration is required, either online or at one of the pop-up clinics.

Other options for immunization

None of the above options is in Ward 3, so if you have insurance or otherwise have the means to pay, and proximity is a factor, DC Health lists several pediatric immunization locations at area clinics and doctors’ offices, including Medstar Health (4200 Wisconsin Avenue) and the CVS Minute Clinic (4555 Wisconsin Avenue) in Tenleytown.

The DCPS “Reopen Strong” website on vaccines also includes a DC Health document that singles out two Ward 3 doctor’s offices as immunization locations: Chevy Chase Pediatrics (5225 Connecticut Avenue) and Spring Valley Pediatrics (4850 Massachusetts Avenue). And it lists the DC Covid Center at 5335 Wisconsin for walk-up Covid-19 vaccinations.

In addition, the Chevy Chase Safeway pharmacy at 5545 Connecticut Avenue is providing back to school immunizations. It’s encouraging families to make an appointment, but will also accept walk-ins. It is open till from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays from 9 to 5, and Sundays from 10 to 5.

Additional back-to-school documents

In addition to immunizations, families are required to submit physical and oral health assessment forms to the schools their children will be attending. You will need to take a printed copy of the DC Universal Health Certificate and the DC Oral Health Assessment Form to the providers, which will fill them out during the child’s checkups.

For the health assessments, you could make an appointment with many of the providers listed in the previous section. If health insurance is an issue, Mary’s Center could be an option. Its three health centers in DC are providing vaccine-only appointments daily. They also offer pediatric health services and at the Petworth location, dental services. In addition, Mary’s Center provides assistance with obtaining insurance and if you don’t qualify, charges patients on a sliding scale.

In Ward 3, there are at least three pediatric dental providers that accept Medicaid: Alayssami Dental Associates (4444 Connecticut Avenue), Capitol Dental Services (2737 Devonshire Place) and Capitol Kids Dentistry (4200 Wisconsin Avenue). Providers in other wards are listed in this DC Health guide.

This information has been compiled from DC Health and other DC government sources. Please let us know at [email protected] or in the comments section if you’ve had success with using any of these services, or if you had any trouble getting back-to-school care through the recommended providers.