Public health departments offer plenty of opportunities for parents to update their children's immunizations before kindergarten registration.

Prior to registration, students should have been inoculated against Hepatitis B; polio; measles, mumps and rubella; and diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

Public clinics include:

* The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency hosts walk-in immunization clinics in Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Newman, Oakdale, Salida, Riverbank and Patterson Monday through Friday. The agency charges $8 per immunization, but people won't be turned away if they can't pay. Call 558-4818.

The agency will also host on-site immunization clinics during kindergarten registration days between March 14 and April 30.

* San Joaquin County Public Health Services immunizes children Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at its Stockton clinic, 1601 E. Hazelton Ave. Cost is $5 per immunization; families will be charged no more than $15. Call 468-3400. The agency's Manteca Health Center, 124 Sycamore Ave, immunizes children the first, second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Call 823-7104.

* The Merced County Public Health Department offers childhood immunizations Monday, Tuesday and Friday at its Merced clinic, 240 E. 15th St. Costs range from $10 to $20. Call 385-7711.

Students may be exempt from immunizations because of their parents' personal beliefs. Parents must fill out waivers, available at schools, prior to registration.

Children whose immunization records are incomplete may still be registered. However, they will not be placed in a class until their inoculations are up to date.

Reprinted by permission of Modesto Bee