Immunizations Vaccines are one of the most safe and effective tools available to prevent your child from getting some serious childhood diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports routine immunizations for all children to protect each child and the public. See the following link for more information. http://www.aap.org/immunization/families/VaccineSafety_parenthandout.pdf Please contact your child’s health care provider for vaccines or the Marathon County Health Department. Marathon County Health Department provides immunizations at locations throughout the county for free or low cost for your convenience. Please see 2012 Immunization Schedule for times and locations of our vaccine clinics. If you would like to schedule an appointment for a vaccine or speak to a public health nurse about vaccinations, please contact our office at (715) 261-1900. Would you like email reminders of when your child is due for vaccines? Sign up here: http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/schedule/tool.cfm Immunization Schedules: Children 0-6 years: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/infants/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf Children 7-18 years: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/who/teens/downloads/parent-version-schedule-7-18yrs.pdf Immunization Update: ***Booster recommendations for Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines. Tdap: vaccine that “protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). All of these are serious, potentially deadly illnesses caused by bacteria.” (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007334.htm) Tdap is recommended as a booster to the DTaP vaccine in people ages 11 - 64. It is given by a shot (injection), usually into the arm or thigh. Tdap vaccine should be given to children between ages 11 or 12. Adults ages 19 to 64 should receive one dose of Tdap instead of the Td vaccine, then have Td boosters every 10 years. If you had the Td vaccine in the last 10 years, ask your doctor if you also need the Tdap vaccine to protect you against whooping cough. Because this vaccine protects against pertussis, the following people should make sure they are up to date with their Tdap immunization, regardless of age:
Children and adults who have had a severe cut or burn may need Tdap to protect against tetanus infection.” (Medline Plus). ***When a Tdap is administered, there now is NO minimal interval from the last Td received. Children aged 7-10 years who are not fully vaccinated against pertussis can now receive Tdap. Adults 65 years and older may now receive Tdap. MCV4: Vaccine that prevents meningococcal disease, “a serious bacterial illness. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2 through 18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the covering of the brain and the spinal cord. Meningococcal disease also causes blood infections.” (Medline Plus) Vaccine usually recommended for adolescents 11 through 18 years of age and college freshmen living in dormitories. ***Routine vaccination of MCV4 will be at 11-12 years of age with a booster dose at age 16. For those adolescents that received their first dose at age 13-15 years, they should receive a one-time booster at age 16-18 years. For those that receive MCV4 when they are 16 years or older, there is no need to give a booster dose. Further information on infectious diseases and personal stories from parents of children who had an infectious disease: http://www.pkids.org/ Frequently Asked Questions “Will following the recommended vaccine scheduled increase my child’s chances of autism?” “Is it okay to postpone some vaccines?” “Is it good to give my child so many vaccines at one time?” For answers to these questions and more, please follow links below. http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/fact_myth_immunizations.html http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/Index.html http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/autismandvaccines.html http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/ http://www.voicesforvaccines.org/