The Health District is giving kids a boost
Give Kids a Boost Back-to-School Shots & Health Fair, Aug. 11, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 8, 2018
LAS VEGAS — Back to school crunch time is officially here, and the Southern Nevada Health District is encouraging parents and guardians to bring their preschoolers, kindergartners, and 7th graders for mandatory vaccinations to one of its public health clinics. The Health District is collaborating with Immunize Nevada and other community partners to host Give Kids a Boost, a special Back-to-School Shots and Health Fair. The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 11 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at its main location at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. to ensure all children have the opportunity to get their immunizations before the first day of school.
“We have a number of conveniently located clinics and mobile clinics throughout the valley to make it easy for parents and caregivers to ensure their children are appropriately immunized and ready for the new school year,” said Dr. Joe Iser, Chief Health Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District.
The Health District encourages parents to arrive at its clinics early to take advantage of the shorter wait times. As the first day of school approaches, the wait times for immunizations will get longer. The Give Kids a Boost Health Fair will offer parents a convenient weekend option to immunize their children. Only immunizations for children up to age 18 will be available. The Health District’s Family Planning Clinic will offer oral and injectable birth control services as well as STD screenings for walk-in clients at the event. Community partners will offer resources and information including blood pressure screenings, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid program enrollment assistance, and safe sleep information.
Parents enrolling their children in a Nevada school for the first time should be aware that immunization requirements vary by state. Immunizations that were up-to-date in one state may not be up-to-date in Nevada. The Clark County School District requires the following vaccinations for students enrolling in school: chickenpox (varicella), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (DTaP and Tdap), meningitis, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). For a list of immunization requirements for school, visit Immunize Nevada’s Nevada School Requirements page.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among children born between 1994 and 2016, vaccination will prevent an estimated 381 million illnesses, 24.5 million hospitalizations, and 855,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes,” said Iser.
National Immunization Awareness Month
As children head back to school and vaccine awareness is heightened, it is a good time to remind the public that the need for immunizations does not end in childhood. August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and the Health District is reminding everyone that vaccines are recommended from infancy to adulthood based on age, lifestyle, occupations, travel destinations, medical conditions, and past vaccinations. Adults who are not certain of what immunizations they need should check with their health care provider to make sure they are current on recommended vaccines. More information is also available on the CDC’s Vaccine Information for Adults page.
Clinic location information is available on the Health District website at www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/immunizations/clinic-locations.php.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.