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For immediate release: August 9, 2004 (04-091)
Contacts:
Michele Perrin, Immunization
Program 360-236-3720
Deanna Whitman, Communications
Office 360-236-4022
Give your child a healthy start to the school
year
Make sure their immunizations are up to date
OLYMPIA ¾ Washington’s immunization rates are below the national average and the recent National Immunization Survey estimates 25 percent of children aged 19-35 months are not fully immunized in our state. As the school year approaches, parents can protect their children from serious and preventable illnesses by making sure their immunizations are up to date.
"Childhood vaccinations remain the most effective way to prevent many diseases, some of which have no cure or treatment," said State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes. "Not only is the child who has been immunized protected, children around them are less likely to get sick. It is also important for younger siblings of school age children to be up to date on their vaccinations to protect them from diseases that may come home from school."
Parents should confirm which vaccinations their children need to return to school by contacting their health care provider. Many health care providers use the CHILD Profile Immunization Registry to keep track of a child’s immunizations and can use the system to provide a current immunization record to parents.
CHILD Profile is Washington’s health promotion and immunization registry system designed to help ensure Washington’s children receive the preventive health care and immunizations they need. The newly enhanced, secure Web-based registry system benefits health care providers by saving them time and ensuring that children are immunized on schedule.
Several immunizations are required before children are allowed to attend school (immunization exemptions are allowed for medical, personal or religious reasons). Parents may also want to consider the chickenpox vaccine for children under age 13 who have not had the chickenpox.
More information on recommended and required vaccines is available on the Department of Health Immunization Program Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize). For more information on where to get children immunized, parents can call their local health department or the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies hotline at 1-800-322-2588. The CHILD Profile Web site (http://www.childprofile.org) provides information on the immunization registry.
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