July 24, 2006

Protecting against Pox

COEUR d’ALENE--Panhandle Health District today reminded parents that preparing kids to return to school includes updating them on immunizations that help protect their health year round. Idaho requires 13 vaccinations for school-age children and children in child cares. Idaho is one of four states nationwide that do not require a vaccination against chicken pox. However, the Panhandle Health District endorses a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Immunization Program and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that parents include the varicella (Chicken pox) vaccine in their children’s immunization plan.

    All childhood vaccines are thimersol-free. All healthy children who have not had chicken pox are candidates for the varicella vaccination, which takes just minutes to administer. The vaccine is free at Panhandle Health District offices, but an administration charge, on a sliding fee schedule, ranges from $5 to $14 a visit, based on family income.

    Idaho requires all children entering school to have the following immunizations: five DTap (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis), three polio, two MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and three Hepatitis B. In addition, the CDC recommends a fourth polio, two varicella and two Hepatitis A immunizations.

    About 85 percent of 2-year-old children in the five northern counties are up-to-date on immunizations. The Panhandle Health District’s goal is 90 percent, says Mareva Kammeyer, immunization coordinator for the district.

    Immunizations are available at all Panhandle Health District offices, federally funded community clinics and through most doctors’ offices. The health district offers immunizations by appointment Tuesdays through Thursdays. No child will be turned away for inability to pay.