With the new school year underway, the Government of Saskatchewan is encouraging parents to ensure their children's vaccines are up to date.

The province says it is especially important for those entering kindergarten.

"It is important that parents and families understand the benefits of vaccinating their children against preventable diseases," said Dr. Saqib Shahab, Chief Medical Health Officer for the province. "Saskatchewan's publicly funded vaccine program plays an important role in keeping our province's youngest residents healthy."

Infants and pre-school age children can receive free vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, meningococcal disease, and rotavirus.

School-age children in Grade 6 are eligible to receive free vaccines for hepatitis B, bacterial meningitis, and chicken pox. Grade 6 female students can get human papillomavirus, while Grade 8 students can receive shots for tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

Anyone over the age of six months can receive a free influenza vaccination with the rapidly approaching flu season.

Flu clinics will begin once again in mid-October.