Vaccines for children offered Aug. 20 in Trenton

Friday, August 9, 2013
Melissa Propp, RN for Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, administers a vaccination to Kendra Rogers, 9, McCook. Melissa will be giving shots from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Trenton Community Building. Call 308-345-4223 to schedule. Walk-ins are always welcome. (Courtesy photo)

TRENTON, Nebraska -- Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) will be offering the Vaccines for Children program at the Trenton Community Building (404 East 1st Street) on Tuesday, August 20th from 3:30-4:30 p.m. SWNPHD will be in Trenton the 3rd Tuesday of every month starting in August. This is a perfect opportunity for you to bring your upcoming Kindergarten, 7th grade and college freshmen students for their required school immunizations and a special "back to school" gift. Please schedule an appointment by calling 308-345-4223. Walk-ins are welcome.

"We are looking forward to getting students ready for school next year and August 20th is a great time to get your shots done," states Melissa Propp, Public Health Nurse and VFC Clinic Coordinator for SWNPHD.

Kindergarten students will need:

DTap (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis), IPV (Polio)

MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) and VAR (Chickenpox).

7th Grade students will need:

TDap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis), Optional: HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and MCV4 (Meningococcal).

College freshmen requirements vary by institution but typically require:

TDap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis), IPV (Polio), MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), MCV4 (Meningococcal) and VAR (Chickenpox). Please confirm with your college on your required vaccines.

"Vaccines for Children" is a program that provides immunizations to eligible children, 18 years old and younger. Eligibility is defined as those who are Medicaid eligible, uninsured, underinsured (health insurance does not provide coverage for childhood immunizations), and/or American Indian or Alaska Natives.

SWNPHD also provides adult immunizations, such as shingles, whooping cough, tetanus and flu shots. We can bill Medicare (pneumonia & flu shots only), Midlands Choice and Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance. Immunizations are one of the most effective and cost efficient ways to prevent disease. For every dollar spent on immunizations, it saves as much as $29.00 in direct and indirect health costs.

"If parents are planning to be in McCook, they can schedule their student shots during office hours of Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:00 p.m. by calling 308-345-4223," explains Propp. SWNPHD is located at 404 West 10th Street, one block north of Arby's.

More information on immunizations is available at www.swhealth.ne.gov and you can follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Perkins and Red Willow counties.

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