The Washington State Department of Health is urging parents and guardians to make sure their children’s immunizations are up to date before heading back this fall.

Last school year, 85 percent of kindergartners were completely immunized. This school year’s goal is 95 percent, according to the department of health.

Students can be excluded from school if there is an outbreak of a disease the child is not immunized against. Vaccines are critical protection for children; they also help keep other kids around them safe from many diseases.

Vaccines are free to all children through age 18. If a health care provider charges a fee to give the shot, parents and guardians may ask to have it waived if they cannot afford it.

By law, no child can be turned away from getting a recommended vaccine by their regular health care provider because the family cannot pay.

Find a health care provider by calling the Family Health Hotlin3, 800-322-2588, or visiting www.parenthelp123.org.