Kindergarten can be a big transition for kids, and one important preparation is making sure your child has received all the required vaccines.

In Iowa there are five vaccines required for incoming kindergarteners. Washington County Public Health Nurse Lynn Fisher mentions the vaccines needed, “For kindergarteners there are five shots required. Some of those vaccines are in combination so a child might not actually get five shots or pokes, but the tetanus and the polio, measles, mumps, rubella and that’s all one shot one vaccine, hepatitis B and chicken pox.”

Fisher adds, “Just remember whether you have a toddler going to preschool, a student going to elementary, middle, or high school or you have that college freshman going off to college, it’s just important to check their records and see if they’re up to date.”

Washington County Public Health can help people check immunization records. To schedule an appointment for a vaccination or for more information contact public health at 319-653-7758.