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Early Vaccinations Urged For Students

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: June 28, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - NEW PORT RICHEY - NEW PORT RICHEY -- Health officials are encouraging families to get free immunizations early for their children long before students report for the first day of the new school year on Aug. 20.

"If a child is not up to date on immunizations their body may not be strong enough to fight off the encountered disease," the Pasco County Health Department director, Dr. David Johnson, commented in a press release.

Vaccines tamed many infectious diseases that once were common in this country, including: polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis, or whooping cough; rubella, or the German measles; mumps; tetanus; and Haemophilus influenzae type b, known as Hib.

"The closer we get to the first day of school the busier our offices will be administering shots," the Health Department's nursing director, Carol Cummins, remarked.

Immunizations are free at the Pasco County Health Department for children up to the age of 18.

Vaccination schedule

•DTaP, the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine: Five doses by age 5. One dose each at 2, 4 and 6 months of age; one dose between 12 and 18 months; and one dose between 4 and 5 years.

•Polio vaccine: Four doses by age 5. One dose each at 2 and 4 months; one dose between 6 and 18 months of age; and one dose between 4 and 5 years of age.

•MMR, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine: Two doses by age 5. One dose between 12 and15 months of age and one dose between 4 and 5 years of age.

•Hepatitis B vaccine: Three doses completed by school entry.

•Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Four doses. One dose each at 2, 4 and 6 months and one dose between 12 and 15 months.

•Varicella vaccine, against chickenpox: One dose at or after 12 months of age and a second dose between the ages of 4 and 6.

•Haemophilus Influenzae Type b, or Hib: Three to four doses, depending on the type of vaccine used, with last dose past first birthday.

As of January 2008 Prevnar, the conjugate vaccine against invasive pneumococcal disease, is required for day-care entry.

Vaccinations against bacterial meningitis, a potentially fatal infection of the membrane covering the brain and spinal chord, and the human papilloma virus, which can cause genital warts or cancer of the cervix, are recommended for children 11 years of age or older but not required, according to the Health Department.

Also, the Health Department provides school physicals for $25.

Places to call

West Pasco residents can call for immunization times or to schedule an appointment for a school physical at three locations:

•Hudson Clinic, 727-863-2444.

•New Port Richey Clinic, 727-861-5260.

•Main Street Clinic, 727-841-4425. No school physicals are done at this location.

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