Health Centers Reopen At 34 King County Schools This Month

Bellevue WA

01 September, 2020

3:03 PM

Description

KING COUNTY, WA — Although students return to classrooms virtually this month, they will still be able to access in-person health services normally at nearly three dozen school campuses, King County announced Tuesday. "The need for basic health-care hasn't gone away just because students are learning from home," said Patty Hayes, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "In fact, many families may be struggling to get health-care access, and they may have fallen behind on routing vaccinations, which protect against many common diseases." The independent, school-based clinics are found at 34 high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. The majority are located within Seattle, but a select few can be found in the Bellevue, Renton, Vashon and Highline districts. Dental services are available to all Seattle students at Mercer Middle School and Chief Sealth High School. In Issaquah, Swedish Medical Center offers mental health services at one dozen schools. The health centers provide for a wide range of student health services, including required immunizations, flu shots, asthma care, mental health counseling and nutrition education. Once schools can safely resume in-person learning, students will need to be up-to-date on required vaccinations before they can return to the classroom. Find a full list of school-based health centers and their operating hours on the King County website. The facilities are funded through voter-approved levies.