Mayor Ras J. Baraka, the Newark Municipal Council and Director of the Department of Health and Community Wellness, Dr. Hanaa Hamdi,  announced today that the City of Newark will kick off its annual “School Bus Express” program on Monday, August 22, 2016. The program will continue throughThursday, September 22, 2016, with extended evening clinic hours and Saturday hours to ensure Newark children receive their required immunizations before starting or returning to school.

Immunization services will be offered at the Department of Health and Community Wellness, 110 William Street, in Newark’s Central Ward. Program hours are listed at the end of this release.

Please note that due to the Labor Day holiday, the clinic will be closed on Monday, September 5. 

“Ensuring the good health of our City’s youth is more than a public health issue,” said Mayor Baraka. “These efforts are critical in building the stronger, safer, healthier, and more productive Newark of the future. Our children cannot grow, learn, and become successful adults unless they are healthy. I encourage all Newark parents, grandparents and caregivers to register your children now for the School Bus Express program and take advantage of the opportunity to give your children a healthy start to the new school year.”

Immunizations are free for Newark residents. Parents and guardians bringing their children for immunizations for the first time are required to have a copy of the child’s immunization record, parent/guardian identification, and proof of residency such as a current utility, telephone, or cable bill, dated within the last 30 days of visit. Adults must bring photo ID and their medical insurance card. To prepare for immunizations, children should eat and hydrate well. 

Also, during the four-week program, parents will have an opportunity to enroll their children in the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS). Immunizations through School Bus Express are available to all children residing in Newark.

“The School Bus Express program is our annual effort to ensure that Newark’s children start the school year healthy and protected from preventable diseases. Residents should take advantage of this free program,” said Director Hamdi.

School Bus Express is an annual program coordinated by the Immunization Program in the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness to deliver the required immunizations for school attendance that Newark children may not have obtained prior to schools opening in September.

For more information, please contact Dr. Shatrughan Bastola, Health Officer and Director of Surveillance and Prevention at (973)733-7592.

SCHOOL BUS EXPRESS SERVICE HOURS

Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

There will be extended hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on the following days:

·         Tuesday, August 23

·         Thursday, August 25

·         Tuesday, August 30

·         Thursday, September 1

·         Tuesday, September 6

·         Thursday, September 8

·         Tuesday, September 13

·         Thursday, September 15

Saturday Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

·         Saturday, August 27

·         Saturday, September 10

·         Saturday, September 17