SANDERS COUNTY - New state laws require that students entering 7th grade receive the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. In addition, students in kindergarten through 12th grade must have two doses of the of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.

Sanders County Health Department and BlueCross BlueShield of Montana Care Van (BCBSMT) have teamed up to aid people in Noxon and Hot Springs to make sure their children are up to date on the vaccines.

September 22nd at 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., public health nurses will be outside the Noxon School in the BCBSMT Care Van to review student vaccine records and provide immunizations to ensure compliance with the new state law.

From Noxon, BCBSMT Care Van will travel to Hot Springs and will be set up from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The new state law goes into effect October 1, 2015.

Parents are being asked to provide their child’s latest immunization record, and a parent must also be present for a student in Kindergarten through 4th grade. Students in 5th through 12th do not need a parent present, but must have a signed permission form and their immunization records.

BCBSMT, along with the Sanders County Health Department, states that they can bill most insurances, including Medicaid. A copy of a medical card must be provided. According to BCBSMT and the Sanders County Health Department, no child will be denied service due to inability to pay or being uninsured.