GREENSBORO – The deadline for vaccinations is approaching.

Guilford County Schools students have until tomorrow to show proof of their required vaccinations before they’re suspended from school.

“This is about student health and wellness, family health and wellness, this community health and wellness,” said Robin Bergeron-Nolan, GCS Health Services Director. “When you're vaccinated, you help to prevent the spread of communicable diseases."

  It is a penalty that’s become a reality for some students in the past.

“Every year we have some that will come in, because they've gotten those suspension letters, but we've offered multiple clinics for them to get them done,” said Vicki Smith, Immunization Unit Nurse Supervisor.

All this week, the Department of Health and Human Services is offering vaccination clinics for students in Greensboro and High Point. Monday and Tuesday’s clinics quickly booked up.

This year, North Carolina state law requires kindergarteners to get a polio booster vaccine and two dozes of chicken pox vaccine. Those shots go along with vaccinations already required.

Seventh-graders need to get their T-DAP vaccine and meningoccal conjuate vaccine.

“They do get notices sent home at the end of sixth grade that this is a requirement before they enter the seventh grade,” said Smith. “They have from the end of the year, through the summer and 30 days after school starts to get it done."

GCS officials say it’s crucial, not only because it’s the law, but they say it’s also critical because there’s been an increase of whooping cough cases across North Carolina and a boost in other diseases across the US.

“Parents may have seen during commercial time at home infomercials about meningitis. There has been an increase in the number of cases in the United States,” said Bergeron-Nolan. “This is another method, by having a booster vaccines, to prevent the spread of this serious and sometimes deadly disease.”

Students who don’t have documentation showing they got their vaccines within 30 days of the first day of school will be suspended per North Carolina law.