Press Release 17-17
Vaccines give you the safe, proven power to protect your children from serious diseases. You can provide the best protection by following the recommended immunization schedule – giving your children the vaccines they need, when they need it.
There are vaccinations that help protect babies from 14 diseases by age 2. It is very important that babies get all the doses of each vaccine and get each on time. Yearly flu vaccines are recommended for all children 6 months and older. Children are also due for additional doses of some vaccines between 4 and 6 years of age. If a child falls behind the recommended immunization schedule, vaccines can still be given to “catch-up”.
Child care facilities, preschool programs, and schools are prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Children in these settings can easily spread illness to one another due to poor hand washing, not covering their coughs, and other factors such as interacting in crowded environments.
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for diseases and can spread disease to others in their play groups, child care centers, and communities –including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer or other health conditions.
You can find out more about the recommended schedule of immunizations by age at: cdc.gov/vaccines/parents.
The Madison County Health Department holds Immunization Clinics each week and appointments may be scheduled online at healthymadisoncounty.org or by calling 315-366-2848. Most insurance plans are accepted. Some fees may apply.