Immunization Information

Childhood Immunizations

Give your child the gift of health. Immunize!

Diseases that once crippled and killed children are now prevented by parents properly immunizing their children. Vaccinations received during the first few years of life can protect children against serious diseases. Due to vaccinations, childhood diseases that commonly occurred in great numbers years ago are rarely seen today.

Though the occurrence is rare, unvaccinated children continue to get serious preventable childhood disease such as whooping cough (Pertussis). Infected children become seriously ill, spread the disease to other children and can even die. 

The Gasconade-Osage County Health Department offers immunizations at each of our three clinic sites. Clinic hours can be found on the home page.  A physicians order is required for most immunizations through the Health Department.

Immunization Tips:

--Contact your health provider if you are unsure which immunizations your child needs. 

--Keep a written record of your child’s shots.

--Stay on schedule.  Postponing immunizations reduces protection against disease.

--To ensure your child receives the proper immunizations it is important that you bring your child’s most current immunization record and a doctor’s order with you to the clinic on “shot day”.

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Childhood Immunization Schedule

ACIP recommended schedule – http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm#printable

--Additional information regarding childhood, adolescent, and adult immunizations as well as Missouri School Immunization Requirements for 2009-2010 can be found at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services web-site:  http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Immunizations/

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Adult Immunizations

In addition to childhood immunizations, the health department offers various adult immunizations including Hepatitis A & B vaccine, tetanus, pneumonia, influenza, MMR, etc. For pricing and availability information contact the health department location nearest you.

If over the age of 13, a physicians order is not required for a tetanus booster or an influenza vaccine.

You need a tetanus shot if it has been 10 years since your last tetanus shot.

An influenza vaccine is recommended yearly. The vaccine is usually available through the health department as early as late September, but the average spike of Influenza A incidence occurs in mid-February.

Anyone traveling out of the United States is at risk of  being exposed to diseases that are uncommon in this country. For more information about appropriate international travel vaccination please visit: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentVaccinations.aspx

 

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