As summer comes to a close, parents and children throughout Stone County are getting ready for a new school year. This means it is time for the annual back-to-school ritual. As parents purchase school supplies and new clothes, parents also need to think about updating their child’s immunizations. Viruses and germs that cause disease typically are not a concern of most parents and children as they gear up for another school year. Immunizations are one of the most important ways parents can protect their children from serious illness or disease. Stone County Health Department (SCHD) encourages all families to be aware that immunizations should be a major part of the back-to-school ritual.
SCHD is holding special back-to-school immunization clinics at the Galena and Branson West offices.
Galena’s school shot clinic schedule:
Tues., Aug. 9th from 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. walk-in
Wed., Aug. 10th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. walk-in
Fri., Aug. 12th from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. walk-in (tetanus booster only).
Branson West’s schedule: (to make an appointment call 272-0050)
· Tues., Aug. 16th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. walk-in
· Wed., Aug. 17th from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. appointment only ***
· Thurs., Aug. 18th from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. appointment only ***
· Fri., Aug. 19th from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. walk-in (tetanus booster only)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. Vaccines protect the person who is immunized from developing potentially serious disease, as well as entire communities, by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious agents. The benefits of protecting children, and the entire population, against vaccine-preventable diseases far outweigh the temporary discomfort of the shots and the low risk of side effects.
Children in Missouri are required to be up-to-date on their immunizations before entering school. While the majority of a child’s vaccinations will be given by age 2, a child still needs to get booster shots before entering Kindergarten. By age 2, children who receive vaccinations will be immunized against 14 diseases.
Immunity from some childhood vaccines can decrease over time, and adolescents are at greater risk for contracting certain diseases. Teens need to get booster shots for tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap), and meningitis (MCV4). In addition, the CDC encourages parents to consider vaccinating their daughters, age 9 or older, against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer and genital warts. HPV is now recommended for boys 11 years or older. Boys will need to visit their healthcare provider to receive the HPV vaccination.
Students who have recently moved into Stone County from another state should visit SCHD or their health care provider for a review of their vaccination record, as requirements may vary from state to state.
All immunizations needed for child care or school entrance are available at the Stone County Health Department and will be provided at a minimal cost to the caregiver. For a complete list of vaccinations required before children may enter childcare facilities or schools can be found by visiting the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services online at http://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/immunizations/records.php
The viruses and germs that cause disease will likely always be present in our environment and will always be a risk to our health. But with Stone County Health Department’s aggressive vaccination program; cooperative parents with a desire to protect their children, and scientists around the world continually working to develop new vaccines- our communities will continue to be protected from vaccine preventable illnesses.
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