As Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) students and parents prepare to go back to school as soon as July 29, MetroHealth and other health experts are encouraging parents to ensure their children are up to date on their immunizations.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) held a virtual press conference on Tuesday, addressing the importance of keeping up to date with vaccinations as summer ends and school goes back into session. ODH Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff noted vaccine awareness as one of his top priorities during this time of year.
“Sometimes we may feel like these vaccines are for diseases of the past, diseases that are no longer relevant today,” Vanderhoff said. “But all too often, we are encountering proof that this simply isn’t true. We continue to see tragic cases of so many of these vaccine-preventable illnesses popping up right here in Ohio.”
Vanderhoff said that since 2022, Ohio has seen small outbreaks of measles, whooping cough, mumps and meningococcal disease, all of which are covered by the recommended childhood vaccines.
Students’ success in and out of the classroom depends on their health
The MetroHealth School Health Program began servicing the community in 2013, operating only as a mobile unit. Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), nearly $4.5 million was awarded to MetroHealth’s School Health Program in the spring of 2022 to renovate and expand their services and outreach. Since then, Clara E. Westropp School of the Arts, Glenville High School and Mound Elementary have been designated as CMSD Wellness Centers, which are places the CMSD community can go to receive clinic services.
Clinics are available year-round to all students, families and school staff in the CMSD. Services currently being provided include primary care , immunization and dental clinics. Both the primary care and immunization clinics serve age 3 and up, while the dental clinic serves age 3 to 22. In the 2023-2024 school year, the clinic had 2,118 primary care visits (immunizations included) and 138 dental visits.
Katie Davis Bellamy, executive director for Community and Corporate Health at MetroHealth, is proud of the clinic’s success so far, and is looking forward to continuing to serve the community.
“We are excited for CMSD, and happy to support students’ success in and out of the classroom, which includes their health,” Bellamy Davis said. “We are here to help, call us or talk to your school nurse if you have any questions or if you or a family member are in need of services.”
How to get an appointment
Appointments are currently open for August. The remaining clinics are as follows:
Clara E. Westropp
Primary Care Clinics: August 5, August 7
Immunization Clinic: August 6
Dental Clinics: August 1, August 8
Glenville High School
Primary Care Clinics: August 5, August 8
Immunization Clinic: August 6
Dental Clinics: August 1, August 6
Mound Elementary
Primary Care Clinics: August 6, August 8
Immunization Clinic: August 5
Dental Clinic: August 7
*Schedule is subject to change
Fall clinics will resume the week of August 18.
Clinic hours are from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Patients will be seen by appointment only. To schedule physician and immunization appointments, please call the School Health Program at 216-957-1303. For dental appointments, call 216-778-3916. Students must be scheduled for appointments by a parent or guardian. To fill out the forms, click here.