A shot in the arm for community

If you have children or grandchildren in school, there’s a concept you should know about called “herd immunity” or “community immunity.”

It’s an idea scientists like to talk about. To understand it, imagine something that doesn’t exist — an immunization that is 100 percent effective in a population that is 100 percent immunized.

If the immunizations are given properly and all children are immunized, the infectious organisms have nowhere to go.

In the real world, vaccines are not 100 percent effective. Even children who are immunized can be infected. Although the odds favor those who get their shots, there are no guarantees.

That in itself wouldn’t be a huge risk. If almost everyone else were properly immunized, your odds of being infected would be very low. But, in the real world, immunization rates are significantly less than 100 percent.

As a result, children suffer from preventable diseases. Last year, the Galveston County Health District reported 16 cases of acute Hepatitis B, 135 cases of chickenpox and one case of whooping cough.

We mention all this because the Galveston County Health District has been offering free immunizations this week in observance of National Infant Immunization Week.

It’s not too late. Please make sure your own children are vaccinated. And help us spread the word about community immunity.

Shots are available at these sites:

• Dickinson, 905 FM 517 E. — From 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Saturday.

• Galveston, 4700 Broadway — From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

• Texas City, 2000 Texas Ave. — From 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today through Friday.

For information, call 409-938-2244.