Young Adults (high school) – English PDF || Spanish PDF || Russian PDF || Vietnamese PDF

Did you know?  Insured teens and young adults (0–20) in Washington get a free health checkup every year!  A well checkup offers the perfect time for getting those important immunizations or get a sports physical, and for asking any health questions you might have.  A well checkup is a great chance for your health care provider to offer support for behavioral/mental health and wellness.  Please contact your regular clinic to schedule an appointment.

If you need help finding resources, such as free or reduced cost clinics, insurance or other programs, check: Resource Fnder

Free at-home COVID-19 tests 

The CDC recently made an announcement that free COVID tests can be requested. Every U.S. household can receive four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered to their home through USPS beginning Monday, September 25, 2023. For more information, visit COVID.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests and place your order here: COVID Home Tests | USPS. 

WHEN SHOULD YOU KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME, AND WHEN CAN THEY RETURN AFTER ILLNESS?

• ​​​​​​​Common Cold Symptoms: Students should be home when feeling ill and having a lot of nose and throat drainage. They can return when symptoms improve and student feels well. Testing for COVID-19 is recommended.
• Diagnosed COVID-19, Influenza (flu) or other respiratory illness: May return when cough and other symptoms have significantly improved and student feels well. Note: it is strongly recommended students diagnosed with COVID-19 stay home for 5 full days and wear a mask days 6-10.
• Diarrhea: Defined as 2 or more loose stools in a 24 hour period. May return when diarrhea free for at least 24 hours and feeling better. Testing for COVID-19 is recommended.
• Eye Drainage: Thick mucous, pus or “pink eye” (bacterial conjunctivitis) Consult Health Care Provider (HCP) and use guidelines provided.
• Ear Pain/Infections: Stay home if advised by healthcare provider, if there is drainage from ear, or accompanied by fever or other concerns. Children with ear infections without fever do not need to be excluded from school, but the child needs to get medical treatment and follow-up.
• Fever: 100.4 F (38 C) or higher with or without other symptoms. Student may return when they are Fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Testing for COVID-19 is recommended.
• Headache: IF the headache resulted from a head injury or the headache interferes with school and other activities. Headaches often can be managed at home with more sleep, healthy routines, by limiting screen time, and wearing contacts/glasses if prescribed. If headaches are recurrent, persistent, severe, or accompanied by other symptoms, see HCP.
• Lice: Consult with school nurse or health care provider for chronic/persistent lice. Treatment is recommended before returning to school.
• Rash: Any new body rash that is not from allergy. Consult Health Care Provider for diagnosis.
• Scabies: May return after student has been seen by HCP and received overnight treatment for condition.
• Significant Sore Throat: with or without fever. Student may return 24 hours after treatment is started or sore throat is resolved and child is feeling well. Testing for COVID-19 is recommended.
• Stomach ache or abdominal pain: when accompanied by nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. If pain is severe, chronic, or with other symptoms consult HCP. Please make a personal plan to manage menstrual cramps. If cramps change, are severe or regularly interfere with activities, please see HCP.
• Persistent Cough: with or without fever. Return when cough has lessened and there is no fever. Consult Health Care Provider for cough lasting more than 10 days or with fever. Testing for COVID-19 is recommended.
• Vomiting: May return when vomit free for at least 24 hours. Testing for COVID-19 is recommended.

There has been an outbreak of measles in Washington, including Snohomish County. While there have not been any cases detected so far in our school district, should there be an outbreak at one of our schools, officials at the health district have the authority to exclude from attending school any students or staff who have not been immunized against measles.

• If you have not received any MMR vaccines or have had only one dose of MMR, you would be excluded from school until the outbreak at the school is declared over.
• If you received your MMR vaccine between 1963 and 1968, the CDC has just determined that vaccines given during that timeframe are likely ineffective. You can get revaccinated with the new MMR vaccine, or obtain a blood test to prove you are immune to the measles.
• If you have had two (2) doses of MMR or MMRV, you are up to date with required measles vaccinations.

The Snohomish Health District encourages you to contact your healthcare provider to get up to date on your vaccines as soon as possible. Acceptable forms of documentation may be provided through any of the following:

• Date of birth before 1957; or
• Record of two (2) measles vaccinations with a live measles virus-containing vaccine verified by a licensed health care provider; or
• A letter from a licensed health care provider documenting infection with and full recovery from previous measles illness; or
• A letter from a licensed health care provider that confirms a blood test or serology showing measles immunity.

According to the Snohomish Health District, symptoms of measles generally appear about 7 to 14 days after a person is infected but may be up to 21 days after exposure. Measles typically begins with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash appears on the face and spreads downward on the body.

You can protect yourself and your family by ensuring everyone has been vaccinated; staying away from people who are sick; washing your hands frequently; and calling your provider if there is any exposure to a person with measles.

Visit the Snohomish Health District website for more information about measles or for updates on the measles outbreak.

Protect Your Teen From Meningitis

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Meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection that causes severe swelling of the brain and spinal cord. It is spread through respiratory and throat secretions usually during close personal contact such as kissing, close living arrangements at summer camp, or fraternities/sororities/dorms in college. Symptoms initially look like the flu (headache, fever, extreme tiredness), then progress to other symptoms (stiff neck, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and a rash of small purplish black-red dots.) Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect this disease.

The good news is there is a vaccine available that prevents 83% of the cases caused by 4 out of 5 of the most common strains of the bacteria that cause this disease. This vaccine is strongly recommended by the medical community. Two doses are needed for full protection.

CDC Immunization Schedule for 16-Year Olds

Do you wake up late and hurry to school without eating breakfast? If so, you are in the same company as 25% of Kamiak students with this unhealthy habit. When you get to school and smell breakfast in the Commons, your brain and your stomach says “time to eat”. If you don’t, your brain and body are not receiving the nourishment you need to function at your best. Studies show that people who eat breakfast improve their academic performance. Headaches and stomachaches happen when you skip this important meal of the day. Busy families can help their children break this bad habit by providing healthy food that teens can “grab and go”, including bananas, granola or protein bars, yogurt, or sun butter and jelly sandwiches.  To see if your student may qualify for free or reduced-cost breakfast and lunch, or to report special dietary needs, please visit Nutrition Services: Nutrition Services”