IMMUNIZATIONS

These are offered for eleven vaccine-preventable diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, haeomophilus influenza Type b(Hib), hepatitus A, hepatitis B and Rotavirus. Influenza vaccinations are also available in the fall of the year. Review the Immunization Schedule.

For children who are not immunized, it leaves them at risk for contracting diseases which can cause a variety of serious health problems such as brain damage, blindness, deafness, paralysis, and death. Parents can protect a child from these dangerous diseases by simply keeping a child immunized. As of 1999, only about 85.9% of Missouri's children were properly immunized by age 2. Missouri's goal is to have 100% immunized.

Note to adults: If you can't remember when your last tetanus shot was, then you probably need one. A tetanus shot is only effective for 10 years and 5 years if you are injured or have an animal or spider bite.

For more information, call Paula Rost, RN, at (573) 748-5541 or 1-800-870-5541.