9AM-12PM
Columbus Health Department
Meet Fuzzy, mascot for the Columbus Clingstones, between 9AM-noon on July 28, 2026 at the Columbus Health Department, 5601 Veterans Parkway. 1-833-337-1749.
While Fuzzy will only be in attendance from 9-noon, the vaccination clinic runs from 8AM-4PM.
No appointment necessary.
What All Parents Need to Know
To keep children in schools healthy, Georgia requires children to get vaccines against certain diseases before going to school. If you’re unsure of Georgia’s school requirements, now is the time to check with your child’s doctor, your child’s school, or your local health department. That way, your child can get any needed vaccines before the back-to-school rush.
All students enrolled in a Georgia public or private childcare facility, pre-kindergarten, Head Start program, nursery, or school (from birth to twelfth grade) must be protected against certain vaccine-preventable diseases. This includes public and private operations, educational programs, and institutions involved in the care, supervision, or instruction of children. Your local county health department can provide your child with all required immunizations and health screenings needed for GA school attendance (vision, hearing, dental and nutrition – Form #3300). We can provide your child with the required GA Immunization Certificates (Form #3231) you must submit when enrolling your child in a school.
- School Immunization Requirements
- All About the AAP Recommended Immunization Schedule – HealthyChildren.org
In Georgia, all children attending 7th grade, and children who are new entrants into a Georgia school in grades 8 through 12, are required to receive one dose of Tdap vaccine and one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) to meet GA immunization requirements. They will need to provide their school with an updated Georgia Certificate of Immunization Form 3231. Although it is not required to attend school in Georgia, the HPV vaccine is recommended for both boys and girls at ages 11-12 to protect against cancers and other diseases caused by human papillomavirus. A second dose of HPV vaccine should be received 6 to 12 months after the first dose.
In Georgia, all students entering or transferring into 11th grade will need proof of a meningococcal booster shot (MCV4), unless their first dose was received on or after their 16th birthday. Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness that affects the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can cause shock, coma, and death within hours of the first symptoms. To help protect your children and others from meningitis, Georgia law requires students be vaccinated against this disease, unless the child has a Medical or Religious Exemption (Form #2208).
All colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia system have minimum Georgia College – Immunization Requirements established by the Georgia Board of Regents. Some of these institutions may require additional immunizations. Students enrolling for the first time at any public or private college or university should check with their school for specific requirements and recommendations.
In the state of Georgia, if there is a religious objection to the vaccination of a child, a completed Affidavit of Religious Objection to Immunization, Form 2208 is required. After completion of the affidavit, the parent or legal guardian must have the form filed with the school or childcare facility the child will be attending as legal documentation of exemption from the required immunizations. The form must be notarized.
You may obtain a copy of your child’s Georgia immunization record at your local health department, or through your child’s doctor’s office. You also may request a copy at no cost through the Georgia Immunization Registry (GRITS). Electronic requests through GRITS will typically be processed within 5-7 business days but may take up to 10 business days.
Additional Resources