National Immunization Week

Each year, thousands of children become ill from diseases that could have been prevented by basic childhood immunizations. Countless more miss time from day care and school because they are under-immunized or inappropriately immunized. During the week of April 21 to 28, 2012, the Boone County Public Health joins the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in observing National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), an initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of childhood immunizations.

“Immunization is one of the best ways parents can protect their children against serious diseases,” said Vicki McCambridge, Boone County Public Health Director. “Parents are encouraged to talk to their child’s doctor to ensure that their child’s immunizations are up-to-date. By preventing disease, vaccines also reduce the costs associated with missed time from work, doctor visits and hospitalizations.”

To schedule your child’s immunizations, call your child’s doctor or Boone County Public Health at 432-1127.

For immunization recommendations and schedules, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/ImmTB/Immunization.aspx?prog=Imm&pg=Schedule. For more information about Boone County Public Health or Boone County Hospital Home Care Services, click on their link under Services on the website home page.