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Calling All Kids for Back to School Shots and Fun!
Press Release
July 25, 2005
La Marque – With the start of school less than a month away,
parents have many tasks 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
immunizations 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 third 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 two local district offices. Vaccinations will be available
in La Marque at 1207 Oak Street August 1st through August 19th
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Immunization clinic operations in Texas City and
Dickinson will be relocated to this location during the event. To make this a
pleasant experience for parents and children there will be costumed characters,
coloring contests, and door prizes each day.
A second location where vaccinations may be obtained is the Galveston Immunization Clinic 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.
Each year, ensuring that all children enter school adequately immunized is an
important job that is made easier when other organizations assist in the
effort. Partners in the community assisting the Health District with this years
“Kids Health Fest” include the Coastal Area Health Education Center (AHEC),
Galveston Housing
Authority, Mainland Medical Center, Amerigroup, and
UTMB.
Members of the Health District’s Immunization Advisory Council meet regularly to
brainstorm innovative ideas on how to reach more kids. At the meetings the use
of volunteers and incentives is encouraged. Additionally a program that will
remind parents when a child needs a vaccination has also been implemented as a
result of suggestions from the council.
“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.”
“We want to work with all parents to ensure their children are in compliance
with all school-enrollment vaccination requirements prior to the start of
school,” says Gonzales. A new law effective September 1st requires
that children attending child-care centers and enrolled in early childhood
programs be vaccinated against invasive pneumococcal and hepatitis A diseases.
Also new this year, are expanded requirements for hepatitis B and varicella
immunizations. Students in kindergarten through 11th grade must have
received hepatitis B vaccine. Those in kindergarten through fifth and seventh
through 11th grades must have received the varicella vaccine before
the start of school.
“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 Immunization
Advisory Council and activities such as Kids Health Fest.”
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 six 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.”
For more information on Kids Health Fest 2005 call (409) 938-2244.
Printed in Gulf Coast E-news
07/26/05
Printed in Galveston Daily News 08/01/05
For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org
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