New Britain Health Department Hosts Back-to-School Immunizations Clinic Friday

The New Britain Health Department is hosting a back-to-school clinic on Friday, August 28, 2026, to help families complete required immunizations and physicals before students return to school. The clinic is being offered in partnership with Community Health Center, Inc. and will take place at the New Britain Health Department, 61 Pearl Street.

The clinic is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, although appointments are preferred. Families should bring their child's immunization records if they have them. Parents can schedule an appointment by calling 860-826-3464.

The clinic comes as New Britain schools work to make sure students meet Connecticut's required school immunization requirements before the new school year. Earlier in August, approximately 300 students were reported to be missing required vaccinations or documentation. By Friday morning, that number had fallen to about 140, according to school district officials.

New Britain hosts Friday immunization clinic

With the new school year just days away, families in New Britain have another opportunity to make sure their children are ready to return to the classroom.

The New Britain Health Department is holding a special back-to-school clinic Friday, August 28, focused on required immunizations and school physicals.

The event is being organized by the New Britain Health Department in partnership with Community Health Center, Inc. The goal is to provide families with a convenient way to address outstanding health requirements before students return to school.

The clinic will be held at the New Britain Health Department at 61 Pearl Street from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Appointments are preferred, but families can also walk in.

Why the clinic matters

School health requirements can become a last-minute concern for families when the first day of school approaches.

In New Britain, school officials have been working with families to identify students who still need required immunizations or documentation.

The Consolidated School District of New Britain previously warned families that students who do not meet Connecticut's school immunization requirements may not be permitted to attend school or enter the school building until their requirements are satisfied.

The Friday clinic gives families another opportunity to address those requirements before classes begin.

For parents who have been trying to schedule appointments with their regular health care providers, a dedicated community clinic can provide another option.

About 140 students still need vaccines

The need for the clinic became particularly clear as school officials reviewed student records ahead of the new school year.

At the beginning of the previous week, approximately 300 New Britain students were reportedly not up to date on required vaccines.

By Friday morning, the number had dropped to approximately 140 students, according to a spokesperson for the school district.

Seven New Britain schools were also reported to be fully compliant by that point. Officials expected the number of students needing vaccines to decrease further after Friday's clinic.

The improvement represents progress, but school officials continue to encourage families to complete outstanding requirements as quickly as possible.

A larger improvement from last year

The current numbers also show a significant improvement compared with the same period last year.

According to the latest reporting, approximately 1,800 students in New Britain were not up to date with their shots around this time last year.

That number was considerably higher than the roughly 300 students identified earlier this month.

The district's efforts to contact families, combined with school nurse outreach and vaccination opportunities, have helped move more students toward compliance.

Even with that progress, officials say there is still work to do before every student meets the requirements.

Clinic details for families

Parents who need to bring their children to the Friday clinic should make note of the key details.

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: New Britain Health Department, 61 Pearl Street, New Britain, Connecticut
Appointments: Preferred
Walk-ins: Welcome
Phone: 860-826-3464

Families should bring their child's immunization records if those records are available.

Parents who are unsure whether their child is up to date can contact their child's health care provider or the New Britain Health Department for assistance.

Immunization records are important

Getting a vaccine is only one part of meeting school health requirements.

Families also need to make sure schools receive appropriate documentation showing that required immunizations have been completed.

The New Britain Health Department advises families to verify their child's vaccination status and schedule any necessary immunizations.

The department also points families toward Connecticut's CT WiZ public portal as a resource for checking vaccination information.

Parents should therefore avoid waiting until the last minute if they believe records may be missing.

Schools are contacting parents

New Britain school officials have been actively contacting families whose children may still need vaccinations or documentation.

School nurses have also been reaching out to parents as the district works to bring student records into compliance.

This effort is important because missing documentation can create problems even when a child has already received the necessary vaccines.

Parents who believe their child has already received the required immunizations should make sure the school has the appropriate records.

School starts August 31

The timing of Friday's clinic is especially important because New Britain's school year is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 31.

That leaves families with only a short period to resolve outstanding immunization or physical requirements before students return to classrooms.

The district has made clear that students who are not compliant with Connecticut's required school immunizations and do not have the necessary documentation will not be permitted to attend school or enter the building until the requirements are met.

For families still working through the process, Friday's clinic provides a final convenient opportunity immediately before the start of school.

Physicals are also available

The clinic is not limited to immunizations.

According to the New Britain school district, the event is also designed to help students who still need a physical before the beginning of the school year.

This can be particularly helpful for families trying to complete multiple school health requirements at the same time.

Parents should bring any relevant medical information and existing records that may help health professionals determine what their child needs.

Walk-ins are welcome

One of the most important details for families is that appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.

That means parents who were unable to schedule an appointment in advance can still visit the clinic.

However, families who know their children need services are encouraged to call ahead when possible.

The New Britain Health Department can be reached at 860-826-3464 for appointment information.

Calling ahead can also help parents understand what records or other information they should bring.

Health officials encourage families

New Britain health officials have emphasized the importance of getting children caught up on required vaccines.

City Health Department Director Caleb Cowles previously said officials have been working with the school district to help students receive vaccines when they are eligible.

He also emphasized the department's desire to prevent students from missing school because of outstanding vaccination requirements.

The effort is not only about meeting administrative requirements. Health officials also point to the broader role that vaccination plays in protecting children and the wider school community.

Immunizations protect the school community

When children return to school, they spend significant amounts of time around classmates, teachers and other school employees.

Keeping required immunizations current helps reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases spreading through communities.

The New Britain Health Department says current vaccinations protect not only children but also their families, classmates and teachers.

That is one reason health officials encourage families to review vaccination records before the beginning of every school year rather than waiting until a problem arises.

What parents should bring

Families attending the Friday clinic should bring their child's immunization records if they are available.

Having records on hand can help health professionals determine which requirements have already been completed and which may still need attention.

Parents should also be prepared to provide basic information about their child's health history and existing medical care.

If a child has received vaccines from another provider, families should make sure those records can be accessed or transferred as needed.

Accurate documentation can help prevent delays and make the process easier for both families and schools.

How to check a child's status

Parents who are uncertain about their child's immunization status have several options.

The New Britain Health Department recommends contacting the child's doctor or checking Connecticut's CT WiZ public portal to determine whether vaccinations are up to date.

Families can also contact the New Britain Health Department directly.

Taking this step before arriving at the clinic can help parents understand exactly what their child needs.

The district wants every student ready

The school district's recent outreach reflects a broader goal: having students ready to enter classrooms on the first day without preventable administrative or health-related delays.

Officials have contacted parents, school nurses have reached out to families and health clinics have been made available to help students meet the requirements.

The drop from roughly 300 students needing attention to about 140 shows that many families have already responded.

The Friday clinic is another opportunity to close that remaining gap.

What happens if requirements are not met?

Under the district's current guidance, students who are not compliant with Connecticut's required school immunizations will not be permitted to attend school or enter the building until the requirements have been satisfied.

That makes it important for parents to act quickly if their child's records show missing immunizations.

Families should not assume that a child is automatically cleared simply because they previously attended school.

Health requirements and documentation need to be current for the applicable school year.

A final opportunity before school

The Friday clinic comes at a critical point for New Britain families.

With school scheduled to begin August 31, parents have very little time to resolve outstanding immunization requirements.

The clinic at 61 Pearl Street gives families an accessible option just days before students return to class.

Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome, making the event useful even for families who have not yet arranged a visit.

The bottom line

The New Britain Health Department is giving families one more opportunity to complete required immunizations and physicals before the start of the new school year.

The Friday, August 28 clinic runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 61 Pearl Street. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome, and families should bring immunization records when available.

The clinic comes after the number of New Britain students needing required vaccines fell from about 300 to approximately 140. Officials expect that number to decline further following Friday's event.

For parents who still need to address their child's vaccination or physical requirements, contacting the New Britain Health Department at 860-826-3464 can help them determine the next step.

With school beginning Monday, August 31, completing these requirements now can help ensure students are ready to return to the classroom on time.