HOT SHOTS: HEIGHTENED AWARENESS ADVANCES IMMUNIZATION

The number of childhood immunizations is on the rise in Cape Girardeau County and is predicted to continue on the upswing because of new federal dollars.

Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau Health Department, said, "We are seeing a rise in our activities. Our vaccine usage from last year is up at least 39 percent.

"We are doing around 450 to 500 immunizations a month," she said. "And that's up considerably from a year ago."

That number should go up as Missouri health departments receive additional federal dollars.

Craig said she learned last week that Missouri will receive an additional $958,298 for immunization.

The Department of Health and Human Services is disbursing $45 million to 67 areas around the country to implement local immunization plans.

The funds are to be used to ensure that vaccines are available and administered to children less than 2 years of age.

The new funds must be used to increase immunization services by expanding office hours or hiring additional staff.

"The money hasn't gotten here yet," she said. But when it does Craig said she plans to use the money to hire more people.

Craig said the reason to immunize children is quite simple. The shots help keep them healthy.

"Immunizations are preventing critical and life threatening diseases," she said. "The benefits of that protection far outweigh any possible risks."

The health department holds an immunization clinic at the Jackson First Presbyterian Church twice a month.

Immunization clinics are held at the Cape Girardeau office at least once a week.

"Plus, we try to take care of kids who can't keep their regular appointments," Craig said.

The health department stays open until 6 p.m. a couple nights a month, but appointments are needed.

Craig said the immunizations are free to patients, paid for through federal money.

"They do need to check first with their family doctor. We use physician orders. But if they have no family doctor, parents should call us. We can figure out what to do."

Immunizations are also available from pediatricians and family doctors.

Craig said summer and fall are the busiest times for inoculations at the health department.

"Ours starts in the latter part of June and stays popping from then on," she said. "We seem to notice an increased awareness, especially among parents of pre-schoolers, that their kids needs boosters for school."

Also keeping track of immunizations are public school districts. State law requires that students be up to date on their shots in order to attend school.

Betty Chong, director of special services at Cape Girardeau public schools, said school nurses spend hours each fall and spring documenting that students are properly immunized.

If students do not have the required immunizations, they cannot attend school.

"There has been considerable concern that children are coming to school and exposing the other children," Chong said. "This is really for the children's protection.

"We show about 98 percent in compliance," Chong said. "The others have the exemptions or are in the process of completing their series."

Currently, parents have 30 days after school begins to get their children properly immunized. But new regulations for next year will shorten that grace period to 15 school days.

Chong said many officials have lobbied for not allowing children to attend school at all until their immunizations are up to date.

"A considerable amount of nurses' time is spent reviewing the files to ensure their immunizations are up to date at the beginning of the year," Chong said. "Parents are notified by letter that their children are not in compliance. Then nurses follow up on those children. We have a number of parents who do not follow through."

And each year, some students are excluded from school because of immunizations.

Nurses do another review in the spring so parents may get their children immunized over the summer.

"We really encourage parents to have their students immunized for their children's own safety," Chong said. "We're continually reading about epidemics, particularly of measles on the college level, and that means absences from their studies and instruction."