DC students can return to school when they meet vaccine compliance.

DC Health announced that it will partner with Children’s National Hospital to offer free childhood vaccinations at five clinics across the city. The initiative is meant to ensure any child who is non-compliant with D.C.’s school health policies can receive the required immunizations and return to school.

School-aged children have varying requirements for compliance based on their age, but they include DTap, polio, Varicella, MMR, and for middle school and up, the COVID vaccine. Many parents fell behind or declined to have their children vaccinated during the pandemic. Approximately 13,000 students –a quarter of the DCPS school population– aren’t fully vaccinated, according to DC Health’s Schools Immunization Compliance report. Vaccinations for kindergartners have declined since the 2015-2016 school year, with MMR dropping from 88.5% to 78.9% in 2020-2021, according to the CDC.

The following locations will be open for appointments Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

  • Children’s National THEARC // 1801 Mississippi Ave SE 1st Floor
  • Children’s National Columbia Heights // 3336 14th St NW
  • Children’s National Shepherd Park // 7125 13th Pl NW
  • Children’s National Shaw Metro // 641 S Street NW
  • Children’s National Anacostia // 2101 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE

DC Health recommends parents schedule appointments as soon as possible, as they expect high demand for the free clinics. Parents should contact their regular pediatric provider first. However, if they don’t have a provider, they can call Children’s National Hospital at 1-800-884-2327 to schedule an appointment with general pediatrics.

Appointments will be available from Oct. 3 to Nov. 18. Additional weekend and evening hours are available on special dates in select locations listed below.

  • Children’s National Shepherd Park
    • October 10 to October 14: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
    • November 7 to November 10: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
    • November 12: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Children’s National Anacostia
    • October 10 to October 14: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
    • November 7 to November 10: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
    • Saturday October 15: 8:00 am – 5:00pm
Filed Under: Children's National Medical Center, children's vaccinations, dc health, dcps,