We provide vitally
necessary immunizations for children and adults against vaccine-preventable
diseases.
Immunizations are provided
at all three of the Tillamook County Health Centers, and at various outreach
clinics in the county.
Tillamook County Health
Centers offer immunizations (vaccines or "shots") for infants, children,
adolescents and adults in North, South, and Central County. Vaccines protect
your child against many childhood diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus,
whooping cough, polio, measles, and many others.
Shots are required by law
for children who attend public and private schools, preschools, childcare
facilities, and Head Start programs in Oregon. Nearly every place that
provides care for a child outside the home requires shots or a religious or
medical exemption to stay enrolled.
Adults are offered
Hepatitis A and B immunizations, tetanus as well as influenza and pneumonia
vaccines.
Costs of immunizations are
based on the cost of the vaccines, and/or administrative costs and insurance
status. Oregon Health Plan (OHP) is accepted. No person meeting eligibility
criteria will be denied state supplied vaccine due to inability to pay.
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program supplies federally purchased free
vaccines for immunizing eligible children in public and private practices at
no cost for the vaccine. There is a cost for administration of vaccine
however.
Why should I get my child immunized?
Do immunizations work?
Are immunizations safe?
When should my child get immunized?
What if I don't have the money to pay for shots?
Where should I go to get my child immunized?
What are the 7th grade shot requirements?
What are the childcare shot requirements?
What if I'm behind on my Hepatitis B vaccines?
How do I prove that my child has had shots?
Where can I get a Certificate of Immunization Status form?
Why is it important to keep a shot record for my child at home when the
doctor's office has a copy?
What should I know about thimerosal and autism?
What are vaccine-preventable childhood diseases?
Why should I get my child
immunized?
Your child needs shots for
protection against very bad diseases that can cause rashes, fevers,
coughing, choking, brain damage, heart problems, crippling, deafness,
blindness, and even death. Most parents of young children today have never
seen a case of measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, or tetanus. If we
don't see these diseases, it can be hard to understand why it is important
to protect against them. Vaccines are still given for three reasons:
To prevent common infections
Some diseases are so common in this country that a choice not to vaccinate is a choice to get the disease. For example, choosing not to get the chickenpox vaccine is a choice to risk serious and occasionally fatal infection from chickenpox.To prevent infections that could easily reemerge
Some diseases in this country continue to occur at very low levels (for example, measles, mumps, rubella, and Hib). If immunization rates in our schools or communities are low, outbreaks of these diseases are likely to occur.To prevent infections that are more common in other parts of the world
Although some diseases have been completely eliminated (polio) or virtually eliminated (diphtheria) from this country, they still occur in other parts of the world. Children are commonly paralyzed by polio in India or killed by diphtheria in Russia. Because there is a high rate of international travel into and out of the United States, outbreaks of these diseases are only a plane ride away.
Do immunizations work?
YES! If your child gets
the right shots at the right times, you can greatly reduce the chances of
getting these diseases.
Are immunizations safe?
Reactions to the shots may
occur, but they are rarely serious. The site may be tender to touch for a
few days. Remember that the risk in not immunizing your child is far greater
than the risk of a serious reaction.
When should my child get
immunized?
Children need to get
immunized when they are babies. Many parents think that children don't need
shots until they are ready to enter school. That's not true! Children need
most of their shots during their first two years, starting at birth or when
they're two months old. Children who are behind on their shots need to get
immunized to "catch up" and be protected.
What if I don't have money
to pay for shots?
Even if you don't have the
money to pay for them, your public health clinic offers shots at a very low
cost. At the Tillamook County Health Department, no one is denied service
based on the inability to pay.
Where should I get my
child immunized?
You have choices. Your
child's regular health care provider can give the needed shots. Ask about
shots at every visit. Clinics are available in North, Central, and South
Tillamook County.
Contact Us
Directions
What are the 7th grade
shot requirements?
As of the 2008-2009 school
year, the state of Oregon is requiring additional shots for school
attendance. All Oregon 7th graders need these additional shots:
Tdap
What are the childcare
facility shot requirements?
Children in childcare and
those entering kindergarten will need these additional shots:
Hepatitis A series (2)
What if I'm behind on my
Hepatitis B vaccines?
When the hepatitis B
vaccine schedule is interrupted, the vaccine series does not need to be
restarted. If the series is interrupted after the first dose, the second
dose should be given as soon as possible and the second and third doses
should be separated by an interval of at least 8 weeks. It is not necessary
to restart the vaccine series for infants switched from one vaccine brand to
another, including combination vaccines.
How do I prove that my
child has had shots?
Make sure that you take
your child's immunization record with you when you enroll your child in
school or childcare. You will be given a Certificate of Immunization Status
to complete with the date of your child's shots. Parents and guardians can
sign the Certificate of Immunization Status; there is no need to have it
signed by your child's medical provider. However, if you are 15 years of age
or older you do not need a parent or guardian to sign the Certificate of
Immunization Status; you may sign it yourself.
Where can I get a
Certificate of Immunization Status form?
Your child's school or
childcare provider will have copies of the correct form. You can also pick
up a copy at any of the Tillamook County Health Centers.
Why is it important to
keep a shot record for my child at home when the doctor's office has a copy?
Most people are busy and
have trouble remembering a shot from years back. Keeping a shot record of
your child's immunizations ensures that your child will not miss any
vaccinations, there will not be a need to contact the doctor to update your
child's immunization record, and will help your child from getting too many
shots. Your child's immunization record is an important part of your child's
permanent medical records that will be needed throughout their lifetime.
It's up to you to make sure your child is protected.
What should I know about
thimerosal and autism?
Thimerosal is an organic
mercury-based preservative used in vaccines. Thimerosal has been an additive
to vaccines since the 1930's because it is very effective in preventing
bacterial and fungal contamination. There are no valid studies that show a
link between thimerosal in vaccines and autistic spectrum disorder. "Since
2001, all routinely recommended vaccines manufactured for administration to
[children] in the U.S. have been either thimerosal-free or have contained
only extremely small amounts of thimerosal." -American Academy of
Pediatrics
Vaccine-Preventable
Childhood Diseases
Diphtheria
easily spread through coughing or sneezing
early symptoms are sore throat, slight fever, and chills
can interfere with swallowing and cause suffocation
can cause heart failure or paralysis if allowed to go untreated
can be prevented by a diphtheria vaccine
Tetanus
also known as lockjaw
enters the body through a wound
produces a poison which affects the body's nervous system
symptoms are headache, irritability, stiffness in jaw and neck
causes muscle spasms in the jaw, neck, arms, legs, and abdomen
may require intensive hospital care
three out of every 10 people in the U.S. who get tetanus die
can be prevented with tetanus vaccine
Pertussis
also known as whooping cough
highly contagious
causes severe spells of coughing which can interfere with eating, drinking, and breathing
complications may include pneumonia, convulsions, or encephalitis
in the U.S. about 65% of reported cases occur in children under five, and half of those are infants less than one year old
in recent years, an average of 3500 cases are reported in the U.S.
can be prevented with pertussis vaccine
Measles
highly contagious
causes a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, lasting for one to two weeks
causes ear infections and pneumonia in one out of every 20 children who get it
causes encephalitis that can lead to convulsion, deafness, or mental retardation in one out of every 1000 children who get it
of every 1000 children who get measles, one or two will die
can be prevented with measles vaccine
Mumps
causes fever, headache, and inflammation of the salivary glands, resulting in swelling of cheeks or jaw
one out of every 10 who get mumps may develop meningitis, sometimes causing encephalitis
can result in permanent loss of hearing
can be prevented with mumps vaccine
Rubella
also known as German measles
most serious in pregnant women; there is an 80% chance that it will cause defects in the unborn child if infection occurs in pregnancy
symptoms include mild discomfort, slight fever for 24 hours, and a rash on the face and neck lasting two or three days
can be prevented with rubella vaccine
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
also known as Hib disease
strikes one child out of 200 before the fifth birthday
more serious in infants under one year of age
causes pneumonia and infections of the blood, joints, bones, soft tissues, throat, and the covering of the heart
causes meningitis in about 12,000 children per year; about one in four suffers permanent brain damage, and about one in 20 dies
can be prevented with Hib vaccine
Polio
serious cases cause paralysis and death
mild cases cause fever; sore throat; nausea; headaches; stomach aches; and stiffness in the neck, back, and legs also occurs
can be prevented with oral polio vaccine or IPV
Chickenpox
also known as varicella
virus can be spread from person to person through the air or by contact with fluid from chickenpox blisters
causes a rash, itching, fever, and tiredness
can lead to severe skin infections, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, or death
a person who has had chickenpox can get a painful rash called shingles years later
about 12,000 people are hospitalized for chickenpox each year in the U.S.
can be prevented with chickenpox vaccine
Robin Watts, 503-842-3928
This page last updated on 03/19/2013 11:57 AM