Saturday, September 15, 2007

'Got Shots? Protect Tots!'

Health office plans to offer vaccines for various illnesses

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Socorro's Public Health Office is scheduled to offer a variety of free vaccines Saturday, Sept. 22.

The "Got Shots? Protect Tots!" program is set to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the health office, located at 214 Neel Ave., and targets children ages 2 months to 3 years.

However, Socorro County Nurse Manager Rita Goehring said staff members would provide necessary immunizations to people of all ages. She said parents should bring their child's immunization records.

"That's so helpful," Goehring said.

The staff can look up vaccinations children received on the office or statewide computerized record systems, but older shots may not be listed.

Also, parents need to sign a waiver, meaning teenagers who come alone cannot receive shots.

The program aims to get more small children vaccinated in communities where immunization rates are low.

However, Goehring said based on information from health care providers and the Public Health Office, the vaccination rate for children younger than 3 years is about 90 percent in Socorro County. Some counties have lower rates.

"So we don't have a whole lot of kids that are behind, that we know of, which is a good thing," she said.

The health office plans to offer vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough, hepatitis A and B, polio, measles-mumps-rubella and chicken pox. A tetanus booster with whooping cough immunization for teens will be available as well as a cervical cancer vaccine.

"That's really all that the kids are required to have," Goehring said.

Goehring said the event wouldn't offer flu shots.

"Not everybody agrees with getting vaccines, but most parents do," she said.

Goehring believes immunizations save lives by preventing diseases.

New Mexico has a "Done by One" policy that aims to have children get all their early vaccines by the time the child is 1 year old.

"When you're little, there are lots of shots. Tons of them," Goehring said.

The state policy is designed to remove confusion caused by staggered immunization schedules and have 1-year-olds finished with their vaccinations until they are 4-6 years old.

"Got Shots? Protect Tots!" is scheduled to offer vaccinations at various places around the state this fall. It targets children up to 3 years old because by that age, the youngsters often enter preschool, which requires them to become up-to-date on their shots.

Goehring said areas that have influxes of children from across the Mexican border would have longer days.

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