The Floyd County Health Department will conduct a walk-in, back-to-school immunization clinic today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the health department, 16 E.

12th St., in conjunction with a child’s car seat inspection-and-installation clinic.

The event will be co-sponsored with the Georgia State Patrol and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

The department will be giving back-to-school immunizations at the health department on a walk-in basis during the next several weeks, said Floyd County Health Department Nurse Manager Pat Townley.

Today, parents can come by and get their children’s back-to-school immunizations and also receive education about the new state law that went into effect July 1, requiring children younger than 8 to be properly secured in an approved car seat or booster seat.

“Offering an array of services at one event really makes it a one-stop shop for families to access all the services they need to prepare their children to go back to school,” said Townley.

According to health officials, using a booster seat can make the difference between life and death for children who are involved in car crashes.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children across the country.

Children using booster seats are 45 percent less likely to sustain injuries than those using a seat belt, according to health officials.

The new law brings Georgia in line with the age recommendations of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Georgia is already one of 47 states that require booster seats or other appropriate devices for children who have outgrown their car seats but are still too small to be able use an adult seat belt safely.

For more information about today’s clinic, contact the Floyd County Health Department at 706-295-6123.