National Immunization Week: Importance of infant immunizations

by Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN, VMH Community and Home Care

Having a healthy baby is a good reason to get your child immunized. It would be great to keep your child healthy and prevent problems with just a simple “shot”.

If your child is born with special health needs, that is even more of an incentive to get their vaccines on time. If your child’s  immunity is already decreased due to other health matters, vaccines can stop them from getting some diseases. Last year, there was an outbreak of Measles in the state of Minnesota. Vaccination could have prevented some or even all of those cases of Measles and saved time lost to sick days, doctor visits and hospitalizations.

In the twentieth century, immunizations were introduced on a wide scale and eventually led to the global eradication of Small Pox, the elimination of Polio from the Americas, and they have almost eliminated diseases such as Tetanus, Diphtheria and Rubella.

Immunizations have also greatly reduced the occurrence of Measles, Pertussis, and Meningitis. Millions of deaths and other tragedies have also been prevented by vaccines.

Iowa has recently made some changes to its immunization laws. The Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Immunization, has completed the administrative rules process to require Meningitis vaccine for students enrolling in seventh and 12th grade. The administrative rule change was implemented at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.

Other common vaccines available at Community and Home Care include Hepatitis B, HPV, MMR, Flu, Hepatitis A, Varicella (chicken pox), Meningitis, Meningitis B, Rotovirus, Polio, and Pneumonia.

The Centers for Disease Control has now recommended that all persons aged six months or older receive an Influenza vaccine once a year. Public Health does offer flu vaccine for everyone age six months and above beginning in September.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care staff keeps records of each child in the county that has received shots at their office and can send the record to your child’s school or daycare as requested. For more information on vaccines, call Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care in Waukon at 563-568-5660.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic Hours

Waukon: First and third Wednesday of each Month, 1-6 p.m. All other Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m.
Located at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Upper Level  Third Floor. No appointment needed during clinic hours.