June 2010

Teen Immunization Month

**Governor Ted Strickland has designated June as Teen Immunization Month in the state of Ohio**

Vaccination rates for teens in the United States are far below national goals.

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost effective public health tools

for preventing disease and death.

More than 1,900 cases of chickenpox, nearly 1,100 cases of pertussis and 43 cases of meningococcal disease were reported in Ohio during 2009.  The Ohio Department of Health considers the timely immunization of young people ages 11-18 to be a significant priority.

**This year, all students entering 7^th grade in the state of Ohio in the fall of 2010 will be required to show proof of a booster dose of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis vaccine (Tdap) or Tetanus Diptheria (Td).

The Ashland County-City Health Department will be holding  special clinics in June

for teens and pre-teens.

WHEN:  Monday June 21 through Friday June 25  - between 9:00am and 3:00pm

No appointment is needed.  Please bring your child’s immunization record.

WHERE:  Ashland County-City Health Department

1763 St. Rt. 60  (the old Heartland Home)

The Ashland County–City Health Department has all of the following recommended vaccines.  Although all are not required for school, they do help prevent serious disease.  It is important to keep individual immunization records for everyone in your family.  Check to be sure your adolescent has had all the recommended vaccinations.  Vaccinations are not just for babies and little kids!

Hepatitis B    A series of 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine is needed .  Hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer and liver failure.                                                 

Measles, Mumps, Rubella  (MMR)  Check to make sure that 2 doses of MMR have been given.                                                

Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) (Tdap, Td)    A booster dose of Tdap is needed at age 11–12 years.  There are pertussis cases in our area.  It is spread by coughing & sneezing.  It can be deadly if spread to an infant.

Polio (IPV)   If the full series of polio vaccine was not completed, needed doses should be given now.

 Varicella (Chickenpox)   This 2-dose series is needed if you have not had chickenpox disease.  If only 1 dose was received as a child, a second dose is needed now.  Teens can develop serious health problems if infected with chickenpox.

 Hepatitis A (Hep A)   Some teens have a greater chance of getting this disease.   Risk factors include traveling outside the United States, babysitting or having household contact with a child who was adopted from a foreign country within the last 60 days, engaging in risky behaviors, or having a clotting factor disorder or chronic  liver disease.  This is a 2-dose series of shots.

 Human Papillomavirus (HPV)   Adolescent  girls can get this 3- dose series to prevent cervical cancer.  Adolescent  boys may also get the Gardasil brand of the HPV vaccine to prevent genital warts.

 Meningococcal disease    This vaccine is recommended for all teens ages 11 through 18 years, especially for college freshmen living in dormitories.  This disease can cause death in less than 48 hours or serious life- long problems.

Other walk-in clinics are available this summer at the Health Department

on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday in July, August and September

from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

Immunizations are also available by appointment every Wednesday.

Please call 419-282-4357 for an appointment or for more information