The Flathead City-County Health Department and public schools in Flathead County are teaming up to offer immunization clinics this spring.

The clinics are intended to encourage current sixth-graders to get their immunizations early. State law requires youths to have a tetanus booster before they enter seventh grade. The TDAP booster is for children who are at least 11 years old and whose last DTaP shot was at least five years ago.

Children need to have a DTaP shot to immunize them against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) before they can start kindergarten. The final shot must be given after a child’s fourth birthday.

Kindergartners must have a second MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) shot before they can start school; they generally get their first dose after their first birthday.

Children also must receive three doses of a polio vaccine before starting kindergarten. They should get the last shot after their fourth birthdays.

Those are minimum requirements, according to the health department. State and federal guidelines recommend five DTaP and four polio vaccinations.

The health department already has held middle school immunization clinics in Bigfork, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Evergreen. Three additional clinics are planned at Kalispell Middle School, Somers Middle School and at the health department.

The clinics offer an opportunity to avoid the long lines for immunizations that typically occur in August.

Clinics will be offered at the following times:

n 2:30 to 6 p.m. today, Aug. 28, at Kalispell Middle School, 205 Northwest Lane, Kalispell.

n 3 to 6 p.m. May 12 at Somers Middle School, 315 E. School Addition Road, Somers.

n 3 to 6 p.m. May 19 at the health department, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell.

Those who can’t make a clinic may still get their children immunized during regular hours at the health department or with their medical provider.

The health department offers immunizations every weekday. Clinic hours are from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The Kalispell clinic is closed on the second Tuesday of every month. On that day, the clinic moves to the Columbia Falls Volunteer Ambulance Building, 31 Seventh St. W., from 9 a.m. to noon, and to the Golden Agers Senior Center, 121 Second St. in Whitefish, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

No child will be denied a vaccine due to a family’s inability to pay.

Call the health department at 751-8101 or visit www.flatheadhealth.org for additional information.