The Allegany County Department of Health (ACDOH) reminds you that the month of August is designated as, “National Immunization Awareness Month.”
Reminder: New York State Legislation removed all non-medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements for children.
Parents have the power to protect their children from 14 serious and sometimes deadly diseases, including measles, before they turn 2 years old. When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to others in their family and community. This includes babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions.
Some vaccine-preventable diseases, like chickenpox and pertussis (whooping cough), remain common in the United States. Since 2010, the CDC saw between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough each year in the United States. The deaths related to whooping cough each year occur in young babies. The most common diseases are not as prevalent in this country because of vaccinations. The 2019 measles outbreak is a key reminder of how quickly diseases can spread when children aren’t vaccinated. Some infections that are prevented by preteen vaccines, like HPV, can lead to serious health problems later in life. Over 34,000 men and women in the United States are diagnosed with cancers caused by HPV each year.
For school age children, parents should remember compliance with New York State immunization requirements is mandatory for school enrollment. School age children need boosters for four vaccines between the ages of 4 to 6 (DTaP-diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and polio. Older children, like preteens and teens, need Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), meningococcal conjugate and HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines when they are age 11 to 12. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months and older. Please frequent the Allegany County Department of Health website for a
comprehensive list of vaccination clinics.
Off to college or their chosen career? Parents of young adults should send them off to the future fully protected by making sure they are up to date on all vaccines recommended for them. Even healthy young adults need protection from diseases like the flu, whooping cough, meningitis, and HPV.
Remember, adults need vaccines too. This is the perfect opportunity to make sure adults are protected against diseases like flu, whooping cough, tetanus, shingles, and pneumonia. The specific vaccines adults need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, pre-existing health conditions, locations of travel, and previous
vaccines. All adults should talk to their health care providers about which vaccines are right for them.
No one wants to pass on a serious illness to someone they care about, so take charge of your health and help protect those around you by asking about vaccines at your next doctor’s visit. National Immunization Awareness Month provides an opportunity to remind Allegany County residents about the importance of vaccinations and
for of all ages to “catch-up” on their vaccinations.
The Allegany County Department of Health is offering the following immunization clinics to assist county residents vaccinate their children before school begins in September.
The Allegany County Department of Health immunization clinics are held in Belmont at the County Office Building:
Tuesday, August 4, 2020 9 am to 3:30 pm
Tuesday, August 11, 2020 9 am to 3:30 pm
Tuesday, August 13, 2020 9 am to 3:30 pm
Monday, August 17, 2020 9 am to 3:30 pm
Monday, August 24, 2020 9 am to 3:30 pm
Tuesday, August 25, 2020 11am to 5:30 pm
Thursday, August 27, 2020 11am to 5:30pm
Insurance companies will be billed (please bring insurance cards with you). If you have no insurance or
are underinsured a sliding fee scale is available.
Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or official guardian NO EXCEPTIONS.
Please call 585-268-9250 for appointments only. NO WALK IN SERVICE.
You will be given instructions for entering the building when you make your appointment.
Please wear a mask (bring it with you)!
For additional information or to make an appointment,
please contact the Allegany County Department of Health at 585-268-9250.
