Project LINK offers school-shot clinics before Florida classes begin

Project LINK is running Back-2-School Health Clinics across Hillsborough County from July 11 to Aug. 8 to help Florida families meet school-entry health requirements. The clinics provide physicals, immunization reviews and record updates as confusion over vaccine rules leaves some parents scrambling before the first bell.

Why it matters: - Florida students cannot start or stay in school without the required immunization documentation. - Project LINK is aiming to reduce last-minute delays for families who still need physicals, booster shots or updated records before classes begin. - The clinics are especially focused on Kindergarten entrants and 7th-graders, two groups with specific school-entry health requirements.

What happened: - Project LINK announced Back-2-School Health Clinics for K-12 students in Hillsborough County. - The clinics run from July 11 through Aug. 8, 2026. - Appointment times are set for 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. - Families can register early and are encouraged to bring or upload their child’s immunization record.

The details: - Florida uses the DH 680 Florida Certification of Immunization to document immunizations required for school entry and attendance. - Students entering 7th grade must have one Tdap booster in addition to other school immunization requirements. - The CDC includes Tdap in the recommended adolescent vaccine schedule, typically at ages 11–12. - Clinic services include school physicals, CDC-scheduled childhood immunizations, immunization record reviews and Florida SHOTS/DH 680 updates. - Project LINK said the clinics are available for school-entry health services for K-12 students. - The program is intended to help families update missing records and avoid school delays tied to incomplete paperwork. - More information and appointment scheduling are available at the clinic website.

Between the lines: - Florida’s vaccine rules are drawing mixed messages, which can leave parents uncertain about what schools require now. - Project LINK is positioning the clinics as a practical workaround for families dealing with documentation gaps, booster deadlines and enrollment pressures. - The emphasis on record updates suggests paperwork, not just vaccines, remains a major barrier to school readiness.

What's next: - Families across Hillsborough County can use the clinics through Aug. 8 to get children ready for school. - Project LINK expects early registration to help avoid bottlenecks as the first day of classes approaches. - The organization says the clinics are designed to keep students healthy, prepared and ready to start school on time.

The bottom line: - For Florida families facing school-entry health requirements, Project LINK is offering a one-stop path to physicals, shots and updated records before classes begin.