Texas City Sun
Published 08/07/03
By Kristy Gillentine

COUNTY — While parents everywhere are preparing their children for a new school year, fighting crowds for backpacks and lunch boxes, medical officials say they should also be thinking of another battle: fighting deadly diseases with the necessary back-to-school vaccines.

August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month. Each year, this commemorative month increases awareness about immunization as parents and children prepare for the return to school.

In observance of National Immunization Awareness Month and as part of an ongoing effort to increase childhood immunization rates in the area, the Galveston County Health District is conducting a Kids Health Fest in La Marque where children can receive all the immunizations they need before the school year begins.

"Immunizing children is what we do as a community to assure healthy families and neighbors," Dr. Mark Guidry, executive director for the Health District, said in a press release. "Immunizing children is a shared responsibility of parents, physicians, hospitals, clinics, health district and the general public. Developing common goals to maximize the number of children immunized in Galveston County is something health partners can do together to assure the health and safety of children in our community."

There are 12 potentially serious diseases that childhood vaccines fight: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Polio, Haemophilus Infuenzae type B (Hib Disease), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Varicella (Chickenpox) and Pneumococcal Disease. At least one shot is needed for each of these diseases and some require several doses for full protection.

The Texas Department of Health annually releases a schedule indicating the recommended ages for routine administration of childhood vaccines. TDH also provides catch-up schedules for children who have delayed immunizations. Catch-up schedules are available for kids ages 4 months to 18 years.

According to the National Immunization Program — a division of the Center for Disease Control — it is never too late for children to catch up on missed shots. Most of the vaccines can be given at any age and a child who has fallen behind does not have to start from scratch. Although vaccines work best when they are given at certain ages, CDC reassures parents that the shots already given will still count and the child will still develop immunity.

Kids Health Fest is one more opportunity to immunize and protect your children. The event, stationed at the Health District offices in La Marque (1207 Oak Street), began Monday and will continue daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Aug. 15.

Immunization clinic operations in Texas City and Dickinson have been relocated to the Health District office for this event, which features costumed characters, coloring contests and door prizes every day.

For more information about Kids Health Fest, call the Health District office at (409) 938-7221.

For more information about immunizations, visit the following web sites:

• CDC National Immunization Program: www.cdc.gov/nip
• Texas Department of State Health Services: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/default.shtm
• Galveston County Health District: www.gchd.org

Read the press release