Make Vaccinations a Priority; Update Your Family’s Vaccine Records

Before Your Kids Head Back to School

SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO – After a year full of measles, flu and pertussis (whooping cough), South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) is urging parents to make vaccinations a priority and fully protect their children’s immune systems before sending them back to school this fall.

“Illness can spread quickly in schools because everyone is in such close quarters,” said Logan Hudson, SCPHD Nurse Manager. “Immunizations and proper handwashing are the very best ways to make sure your kids don’t catch this year’s seasonal bugs.”

In the 2018-2019 school year several local districts were forced to shut down schools because illness had affected too many teachers, too many students, or both. It’s SCPHD’s mission to help prevent those kind of outbreaks and keep our communities as healthy as possible. To do that, SCPHD needs the public’s help to vaccinate and prevent illness.

“Vaccines don’t just protect the client who receives them—they help stop the spread of an illness and protect that client’s family, friends, and community,” said Christi Dawson-Skuza, SCPHD Public Health Nurse. “The problem is when too many people opt-out. At that point there isn’t much to stop viruses from spreading like wildfire across a community.”

Children are required to have several immunizations before entering kindergarten and seventh grade. Most colleges and universities also require future students to receive immunizations before enrolling. To help keep Southern Idaho students safe, SCPHD will be at several local 7^th grade registrations/open houses to offer immunizations. To find out if SCPHD will be at your school, or to learn more about the required vaccines, visit our website.

To learn more about vaccinations visit our website: www.phd5.idaho.gov/Immunizations/

Follow the District on Twitter at @SCPHD and on Facebook. For more information about the South Central Health District please visit www.phd5.idaho.gov.