News Release 

TOMPKINS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Brenda Grinnell Crosby – Interim Public Health Director

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
Theresa Lyczko at 274-6714 or Karen Bishop at 274-6604

Are Your Immunizations Up-to-Date?

 
August 19, 2010 (Ithaca, N.Y.) August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). The goal of NIAM is to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span.

As summer vacations near their end and fall schedules fill up the calendar, it’s a perfect time to remind family, friends, and co-workers to catch up on their vaccinations.

Immunization is one of the most significant public health achievements of the 20th century. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox, eliminated polio in the United States and significantly reduced the number of cases of measles, diphtheria, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), and other diseases. But despite these efforts, people in the U.S. still become ill or in some cases die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases. For example, in Tompkins County pertussis outbreaks have occurred in some communities in recent years.

Vaccines offer safe and effective protection from infectious diseases. By staying up-to-date on the recommended vaccines, individuals can protect themselves, their families and friends, and their communities from serious, life-threatening infections.

Children under the age of 6 receive a series of immunizations against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox), polio, HIB (haemophilus influenza type B) and pneumonia. Pre-teens (11- 12 year olds) are immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and meningitis. It is recommended that pre-teens receive the HPV vaccine. For more information on HPV vaccine call 274-6616.

Adults should receive a tetanus shot every 10 years and anyone over the age of 65 should be immunized against pneumonia. And if they had chicken pox as a child they should consider immunization against shingles.

Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) encourages parents to contact their children’s physicians to ensure that vaccinations are up-to-date. And it would be wise for adults to call their primary care physician about appropriate vaccinations.

TCHD is able to offer more opportunities for vaccinations at its new location at 55 Brown Rd (near the airport). Adults and parents may call 274-6616 to make an appointment or for more information. For more information on vaccines and the importance of vaccinations go to TCHD’s website: www. tompkins-co.org/health

 

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