Calling All Kids for
Back to School Shots and Fun!

07/20/04
Published Texas City Sun - 07/22/04
Immunization Success Published Texas City Sun - 08/19/04

La Marque - With the start of school less than a month away, parents have many chores ahead to prepare their children for the new school year. However, one task that is critical to health as well as to performance in school should not be overlooked – parents need to ensure their children’s immunization and medical records are up to date.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. In observance, the Galveston County Health District would like to encourage residents to make sure their children are up-to-date on all appropriate vaccinations before starting the new school year.

Dr. Mark Guidry, Galveston County Health Authority, today announced plans for the District’s second annual Kids Health Fest where children can receive all needed back to school immunizations. “Vaccines work,” Guidry said. “They are one of the great public health achievements of the last century. Vaccines protect both individuals and communities from preventable and potentially devastating infectious diseases.”

Kids Health Fest will take place at District offices in La Marque, 1207 Oak Street. Vaccinations will be available July 26 through August 17th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. To make this a pleasant experience for parents and children there will be costumed characters, coloring contests, and door prizes each day.

Immunization clinic operations in Texas City and Dickinson will be relocated to the Health District office in La Marque for this event. Galveston residents may still obtain vaccinations at the Galveston Immunization Clinic located in the Island Community Center at 4700 Broadway. The Galveston clinic is open on Mondays from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1 – 4 p.m. Wednesdays the clinic is open from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 3 – 7 p.m.

Ensuring that all children enter each school year adequately immunized is an important job that is made easier when other organizations assist in the effort. Others assisting the Health District with this years “Kids Health Fest” include the Coastal Area Health Education Center (AHEC), representatives from the Texas Star Program, Amerigroup Texas, Inc., and Mainland Center Hospital.

Members of the Health District’s new Immunization Advisory Council provided innovative ideas on how to reach more kids. At the first meeting of the Council, United Board of Health member Dr. Ben Raimer encouraged the use of volunteers and incentives. Representatives of the state Medicaid program and Amerigroup will arrange for refreshments, information, radio announcements, children’s entertainment, and First Presbyterian Church Galveston will be providing books to children receiving immunizations. “Getting shots is never a pleasant experience for parents or children,” said June Gonzales, RN and Manager of the Immunization Program. “We are trying to make this experience as exciting as possible using incentives and entertainment for the kids.”

“Annual Health District surveys show that the number of Galveston County children up-to-date with school-required vaccinations have consistently increased over the past several years,” says Susan Studebaker, Director of Community Health Programs at the District. “Efforts toward meeting a goal of having 90% of Galveston County children fully immunized will be enhanced by the activities of the new Immunization Advisory Council.”

The Galveston County Health District has included both childhood and adult immunizations in its strategic health plan which is a tool guiding the district’s activities over the next seven years. The entire plan can be found on the District’s web site at: www.gchd.org.

“Working with our community partners, parents, physicians and hospitals, we continually work to immunize children to assure healthy families and neighbors,” said Dr. Guidry. “Immunizations should be part of life-long health improvements – just like a healthy diet and regular exercise.”