 |
SICK & WELL
HEALTH CARE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROMOTING
HEALTHY LIVING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PREVENTING
DISEASE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ABOUT US
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immunizations
For Infants and Children
WCHD offers vaccinations for infants and children through age 18. Immunizations required for routine infant vaccination,
daycare or school attendance, work or foreign travel are available. WCHD follows
vaccination guidelines
recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP)
and North Carolina's Immunization Laws & Rules. A good place to find information about the vaccines, their safety and
the diseases they prevent can be found at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/Parents-Guide/default.htm#chapters
.
Childhood vaccinations include:
- Hepatitis B
- DTaP (for Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis)
- Hib (for Haemophilus influenza type b)
- IPV (for Polio)
- PCV7 [“Prevnar”] (for Streptococcus pneumoniae)
- MMR (for Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
- Varicella (for Chickenpox)
- Influenza (for Flu)
Routine childhood vaccinations are paid for by federal and state governments to encourage parents to protect their children
against vaccine-preventable disease. Children may receive these services at no charge if they fall under state guidelines of
age 0-18 years with Medicaid, no insurance or whose insurance does not cover vaccines. The same services are available
for children who have insurance coverage for vaccines, but a fee may be charged. For more information about vaccination
requirements or to request an appointment, please call WCHD at 651-7450.
For Travelers
Immunizations required for foreign travel are available. Please contact your own healthcare provider about what vaccinations
you will need as early as 6 months before you will be traveling. Some of the vaccines come in a series and must be taken a
few months apart to be effective. Although the recommendations depend on your location of travel, commonly recommended
vaccinations for traveling abroad are:
- Yellow Fever
- Hepatitis A
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Rabies
- Typhoid Fever
- Boosters for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Measles, Polio and Hepatitis B
For more specific recommendations on what vaccinations should be taken before leaving, check CDC’s website at
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/. To make an appointment for your vaccination
or for more information, please call 651-7450.
For Adults
Immunizations for adults are also available. There are times when boosters for childhood vaccinations are recommended, such
as MMR for entering college or tetanus following an injury. Other vaccines are recommended to counter diseases as we age.
For example, Menomune now is recommended to protect against meningitis while in college dorm settings where diseases can
spread rapidly. Perhaps the most well known recommended vaccinations for adults are:
- Flu Vaccine (the shot or nasal spray)
- Pneumococcal Vaccine
- Tetanus Booster
Wilkes County Health Department also provides the TB skin test. The test takes 48 to 72 hours to confirm a positive or negative
so plan to return to the health department within 48 to 72 hours of the first visit for a reading. For more information, please call 651-7450.
|
|
|
