National Infant Immunization Week

During National Infant Immunization Week the United States can be proud of a very successful infant vaccination protection rate.  “The National Immunization Survey has consistently shown that childhood immunization rates for vaccines routinely recommended for children remain at or near record levels.” Unfortunately, this vaccination victory weakens with age. As adults, we have the lowest vaccination rates. So how can we protect our children and ourselves? 

 Talk with your healthcare provider. After receiving a vaccination, many factors can change the actual protection a person ends up with. This is why we need to vaccinate more people to reduce the rate of illness.  Vaccination at every age is a simple and smart way to reduce contact with vaccine preventable illnesses.

 

 Follow the recommended vaccine schedule. An infant who receives the recommended vaccines will be protected from 14 vaccine-preventable diseases by age two!  

 
Travel with peace of mind. Did you know that not every country vaccinates for every illness that they could? Click here to see if your family needs extra protection for your next vacation.

 

Be a role model. As adults, it is just as important to make sure our vaccines are up-to-date as it is for our children. The health and well being of future generations depends on us staying healthy and not passing illnesses to children.

 
Protect! Give your infant the highest level of protection by continuing to follow the recommended vaccination schedule.  Encourage family and friends to get their vaccinations too.  Hopefully, we can all appreciate and expand our vaccine protection throughout our lifetime with these proactive steps.  

Good Health! Vaccinate!

Karen Plotas-McGrath, RN, BSN

Public Health Nurse

Immunizations – How to Keep it Together

 

The end of summer is here and many parents are shuffling around in a panic trying to figure out if their children are up to date with required school vaccines. But don’t worry, there’s a great tool in New York State which stores your family vaccinations in one place, it’s called the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS).

Ask your health care providers if they are part of NYSIIS.  If they are not, and you want all of your family’s immunization records loaded into one electronic registry with NYS, contact the Clinton County Health Department at 518 565-4848. We’d be happy to help you!

NYSIIS makes it easy for you and your doctor to:

ü  Make sure you and your family are up to date with the recommended vaccines,

ü  Review at each medical appointment, no matter the location – primary care provider, emergency room, specialist, or vaccine clinic, and

ü  Replace lost vaccine records.

To learn more about the vaccines you might be missing and for more tips on how to keep it together, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vaccines-age.html    

Good Health to you!