Post Date:04/14/2015GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – While whooping cough, polio and measles may seem like problems of past generations, today’s children who are not vaccinated remain at risk for these potentially deadly preventable diseases. That’s why the Galveston County Health District is pleased to participate in National Infant Immunization Week, April 18-25.
“While vaccine-preventable childhood diseases in the United States have reached record or near record lows, they have not disappeared,” said Galveston County Health Authority Dr. Mark Guidry. “Many of the viruses and bacteria are still circulating in this country or are only a plane ride away. That’s why it’s important that children, especially infants and young children, receive recommended immunizations on time.”
GCHD investigated 42 vaccine-preventable diseases in 2014, including hepatitis, pertussis, streptococcal and varicella. Although none were experienced in Galveston County, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported ten cases of measles in Texas last year. The 18-state measles outbreak linked to a California amusement park earlier this year illustrates the importance of vaccination.
As part of National Infant Immunization Week, GDHD will promote the benefits of immunizations by providing ImmTrac (Texas Immunization Registry) specialists to educate mothers at our three WIC clinics; offer immunization classes and information to providers, school nurses and day care staff, and provide educational information at the Costal Health and Wellness Immunization Clinics.
GCHD encourages everyone to visit one of our vaccination clinics during National Infant Immunization Week. For more information about the clinics or the benefits of immunizations, please call (409) 938-2244 or visit www.gchd.org. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provides a wealth of immunization information at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
About the Galveston County Health District
The Galveston County Health District (GCHD) is a distinct governmental entity and is unique as it oversees two major operations under two separate and distinct policy-making boards: (1) the United Board of Health appointed by Galveston County and cities to set policy for health department services and (2) the Coastal Health & Wellness Governing Board, on which the majority of members are consumers who set policy for the FQHC operations in accordance with federal requirements. Additionally, the district oversees services under three distinct tax ID's: Galveston County Health District, which funds services related to public health, animal control, financial screening for the Galveston County indigent healthcare program, and air and water monitoring services. Coastal Health & Wellness, which provides medical, dental and mental health counseling services to Galveston County residents, and Galveston Area Ambulance Authority which provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance services to contracted agencies within Galveston County.Return to full list >>
