Kids Health Fest
Promotes Back To School Immunizations
July 23, 2003
La Marque – Preparing for the new school year
can be a hectic time, but while shopping for school supplies
and new clothes, don’t forget to check your child’s
immunizations schedule. August is National Immunization
Awareness Month. In observance, the Galveston County Health
District would like to encourage residents to make sure their
children are up-to-date on all appropriate vaccinations before
starting the new school year.
“During my 35 years as a community health nurse, the
two weeks before a new school year have always been the busiest
for administering immunizations,” states Shirley Carr,
BSN, RN, Director of Nursing for the Health District. “We
want parents to bring in children throughout the year to receive
immunizations according to the schedule, but many wait until
a new school year begins. Waiting to immunize your child right
before school starts, can be stressful for both parents and
their children.” As part of an ongoing effort to increase
childhood immunization rates in the county the District will
be conducting a Kids Health Fest where children can
receive all needed back to school immunizations.
This event will take place at District offices in La Marque,
1207 Oak Street. Vaccinations will be available August
4th – 15th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. To make
this a pleasant experience for parents and children there
will be costumed characters, coloring contests, and door prizes
each day.
Immunization clinic operations in Texas City and Dickinson
will be relocated to the Health District office in La Marque
for this event. Galveston residents may still obtain vaccinations
at the Galveston Immunization Clinic located in the Island
Community Center at 4700 Broadway.
“Immunizing children is what we do as a community to assure
healthy families and neighbors,” says Dr. Mark Guidry,
Executive Director for the District. “Immunizing children
is a shared responsibility of parents, physicians, hospitals,
clinics, health district, and the general public. Developing
common goals to maximize the number of children immunized in
Galveston County is something health partners can do together
to assure the health and safety of children in our community.”
Kids Health Fest is one of many activities being developed
and planned by the Health District to address a priority to
immunize children and adults, and to prevent disease outbreaks
in Galveston County.
For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org
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