April 25 – May 2, 2009 is National Infant Immunization Week

May 2009 is Toddler Immunization Month

Immunizations are the best way to prevent many serious and life-threatening diseases. National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance held during the last week of April to promote the benefits of immunizations and to focus on the importance of immunizing infants against vaccine-preventable diseases by age two. NIIW provides an excellent opportunity for immunization advocates, healthcare providers, health departments, and community leaders across the country to focus on the positive impact of immunization on the lives of infants and communities they live in, and to call attention to immunization achievements. The 2009 NIIW/TIM observance has partnered with the California-Statewide “I Choose” campaign, which highlights groups and community members that support immunizations throughout California

For more information about National Infant Immunization Week activities in California, visit the California Immunization Coalition website at www.immunizeca.org. For more information about the “I Choose” campaign, please visit www.whyichoose.org.

Free Tdap Vaccination for Parents!

The Public Health Department is celebrating National Infant Immunization Week April 25-May 2nd, and Toddler Immunization Month May 2009. Parents of infants and toddlers will be offered a free Tdap vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis) when they bring their infant/toddler in for immunizations. Tdap was licensed in late 2005 and it is recommended that every care giver of an infant and toddler should have this vaccine to prevent against spreading Pertussis (whooping cough) to those who are too young to be fully vaccinated. Appointment is needed; call your local PHD site in Paso Robles 237-3050, SLO 781-5500, or Grover Beach 473-7050. In 2008 there were 17 reported cases of Pertussis in SLO County and 524 in the state.

 

 

  The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Immunization Program provides comprehensive immunization services to reduce the incidents of specific diseases that are known to be preventable by immunization. The program services include year round pediatric and adult immunization clinics, travel immunizations, and seasonal flu vaccine clinics. Contact clinic offices for individual appointments. (see below)

 

Goal: The goal of the San Luis Obispo County Immunization Program is to assure appropriate, on-time immunizations for infants, children, adolescents and adults in the county. The program acts as a resource to provide accurate and timely immunization information to private and public health care providers, to schools and child care centers, and to the general public.

Immunization Registry: The San Luis Obispo Public Health Department is a member of the California Immunization Registry (CAIR). The purpose of the registry is to assure accurate, safe and complete immunization records are available to all health providers, and others authorized by law, such as schools. A Client disclosure (spanish) is available ( 232 pdf).

Immunization Records Request: Ask for Kelly at (805) 781-5722

Vaccine Fee list (pdf 13K): These prices are subject to change as vaccine costs change.

Public Health Immunization Services are Offered by Appointment

San Luis Obispo Office 2191 Johnson Ave. 805-781-5500; Fax: 805-781-5543 Office hours: Monday - Friday 8-12 1-5 Vaccine Clinic hours: (By appt.) Monday: 1:15-4:00 Tuesday: 8:30-11:00 Wednesday: 8:30-11,1:15-4:00 Thursday: 8:30-11:00 Friday: 8:30-11:00

Paso Robles Office 723 Walnut Drive 805-237-3050; Fax: 805-237-3057 Office hours: Monday - Friday 8-12 1-5 Vaccine Clinic hours: (By appt.) Tuesday: 8:00-11:00, 1:00-4:00 Thursday: 8:00-11:00 Morro Bay Office 760 Morro Bay Blvd. 805-772-6380 Vaccine Clinic hours: (By appt.) 1st Monday/month (8:00-11:00 am) 4th Thursday/month (1:00-4:00 pm)

Grover Beach Office 286 S. 16th St. 805-473-7050; Fax: 805-474-7473 Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 8-12 1-5 Vaccine Clinic Hours: (By appt.) Tuesday: 8:30-11:00, 1:30-4:00

Types of Immunizations:

Vaccines are among the 20th Century's most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only prevent a vaccinated individual from developing a potentially serious disease, but they also help protect the entire community by reducing the spread of infectious agents.

Table of Vaccine-Preventable Disease statistics

 

· Child Immunizations: Immunization Timing Schedule (0-18 years), Vaccine Myths and further resources.

· Adolescent and Teen Immunizations

· Adult Immunizations

· Pregnancy

· Travel

· Influenza (Flu) Immunizations

 

Resources:

American Academy of Pediatrics

CDC National Immunization Program

Common Questions Parents Ask About Infant Immunizations 

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia  Excellent Vaccine Education Center

Immunization Action Coalition Vaccine Information, Safety and Importance

Stanford Medical Center: Hepatitis B

Vaccinate Your Baby Find out what Amanda Peet and Rosalynn Carter say about vaccines. 

Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Vaccine Safety 

Facts for Parents About Vaccine Safety  (77 pdf)

Vaccine Safety: The Facts (46 pdf)