Free Shots Offered During Immunization Week

Press Release
04/06/04
Published in the Texas City Sun 4/26/04
Editorial Published in the Texas City Sun 4/26/04

La Marque – The Galveston County Health District will offer free immunizations as part of its strategic health priority and goals to immunize children against infectious diseases. The District’s efforts will target children two years and younger, who are most vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases.

During National Infant Immunization Week, April 25 – May 1, the Health District will join over 500 communities in the United States in a national effort to educate parents, caregivers, health providers, and neighbors about the importance of immunizing children on time. In addition, the Health District will make available free immunizations at an increased number of sites throughout the county and during evening and weekend hours (SEE SCHEDULE). Finally, the Health District has supported and provided technical assistance to UTMB in organizing its free immunization sites on Galveston Island, while the District is simultaneously organizing a host of other sites around the entire county using an expanded core of community volunteers.

The Health District was recently awarded the Texas Public Health Association’s “Thinking Progressively for Health Award” presented on April 18th. The award recognized the Health District for expanding access to immunizations by working cooperatively and innovatively with community partners and volunteers.

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect vaccinated individuals from developing potentially serious diseases, they also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infections. Each year approximately 3,500 babies are born in Galveston County who will need to be immunized against twelve diseases before age two.

“As best we can tell it appears we still have much room for improvement. Random survey data suggest that immunization coverage among children in Galveston County is less than the national goal of 90% properly immunized,” says Susan Studebaker, RNC, and Director of Community Health Programs for the District. “Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases and that is why it is critical they are protected.”

District Health Authority, Dr. Mark Guidry states, “Immunizing children is a shared responsibility, public and private entities, physicians, and other providers may best work together with shared goals and strategies to improve access to needed vaccinations in the medical home.”

Community groups, volunteers, and neighbors can help a great deal. Dr. Guidry went on to say, “It is important to encourage your neighbors and loved ones to protect themselves against these preventable diseases on time. The diseases are serious, may lead to hospitalizations, pain, suffering, and even death.”

During Infant Immunization Week families will be able to receive free immunizations at a variety of traditional and new locations throughout Galveston County. These sites have been selected to make it easy for parents to access needed immunizations and then follow-up according to the schedule. At each location there will be activities and costumed characters to make it a more pleasing experience for the families.

Vaccinations will be available in the immunization clinics operated by the District at the following locations and times the week of April 25.

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org