Health officials in the Prince Albert area are sounding the alarm are concerned over immunization rates that are well below the provincial average. They're trying to spread the word that potentially deadly diseases can be prevented with just a little poke.

As children across the country get ready to head back to school, the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region is urging parents to add one more thing to their to-do list for their little ones - get immunized.

Right now, immunization rates in the area are hovering between 60 and 70 per cent. That means 30 to 40 per cent of people are at risk for polio, measles and mumps, diseases that were common generations ago but are now rare in immunized populations.

Sandy Heidel is a public health nurse in the area. She says this year it's important to think about immunizations for all kids. "Our two year olds, there's only three to four out of 10 that actually are not protected from diseases that we can protect with vaccines, so this is the type of year that we're thinking about getting back into routines."

The most common vaccine preventable disease in Prince Albert is whooping cough, but the mumps and polio are making a comeback in some parts of the country.

But incredibly, the health region says many parents tell them they just don't have the time to bring their kids in.

"Just taking 10 minutes out of your day and it's not difficult to ask your supervisor, your manager, your boss and say, look I need to take the kids for an immunization," says Khami Chokani of the health region.

The immunizations aren't just important for the individual children. Childcare workers like Olivia Brown with Children's Choice Daycare, say getting the shots are a must. "If a child is sick you carry what they have on them on you and you take it home so it helps protect my children and myself as well."

For parents looking to have their children immunized before the start of the school year, Prince Albert Parkland Health Region is offering extended hours at the Bernice Sayese Centre, or at the McIntosh Mall.