POINT PLEASANT — With half of the summer over it is time to start thinking of back to school plans.

And the Mason County Health Department is making it easier on parents and students by hosting a back to school immunization health fair, which is slated for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.

The health fair also will include games, balloons, face painting, give-aways and will provide information regarding car seat and bus safety. According to Diana Riddle, administrative/ nursing director of the Mason County Health Department, those who do not wish to receive immunizations can still attend the fair.

According to the health department, the state of West Virginia requires that children entering kindergarten this fall or students who will be entering grades K-12 for the first time in West Virginia have at least four doses of DTaP and three doses of polio vaccine, one of which must be given after the child’s fourth birthday. Two doses of measles and rubella (MMR) and two doses of the chickenpox (varicella) are required with the first dose on or after the age of 12 months. Three doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine also are required.

Students transferring from other states and foreign exchange students must receive a TB skin test before entering school if none has been given within 120 days prior to the start of school. TB skin tests are available for students, employees and parent volunteers every Monday except the second Monday from 8-10:30 a.m. with a return to the health department on the following Thursday.

The health department recommends that parents update their children’s shot records, and emphasized the importance of keeping track of adolescent children’s records as several new vaccines are now available for adolescents. According to the health department, the following vaccines are not required for entry into a West Virginia public school, but recommended:

• Booster of tetanus, children after the ages of 11 and 12.

According to the health department, a combined booster of tetanus and pertussis is now available for this age group.

• Meningoccal vaccine.

The health department recommends that students ages 11-12, 15 and college freshmen living in dormitories receive the meningoccal vaccine. The meningoccal vaccine is not required for school attendance.

• HPV vaccine

According to the health department, the HPV vaccine protects against four types of the human papillovirus that are found to increase the chances of cervical cancer. The health department has the vaccine available for adolescent females.

The health department also advises parents whose children that have not received all three doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine to get them started or complete the series. According to the health department, those who receive the Hepatisis B vaccine are not protected until the series is complete.

The health department offers vaccines free of charge to those who are eligible for the Vaccine for Children Program. To be eligible children must be ages 18 and under and must be uninsured, underinsured or a Medicaid recipient. These vaccines also are available at pediatrician offices.

Immunization clinics are offered by the health department each Thursday except the second Thursday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. as well as an evening clinic every other month. The evening clinics are held 3-6 p.m. on the first Monday in February, April, June, August, October and December.

Aside from the health fair, the health department also will offer additional immunization clinics for school age children 3-6 p.m. Aug. 3; 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Aug. 6; 3-6:30 p.m. Aug. 17; 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Aug. 20; and 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Aug. 27. Parents must bring their child’s shot record to the clinics.

For more information, call the health department at 304-675-3050.