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Health Department adds fun to getting shots
Leann Meadows, 8, of Ona, W.Va., sits on dad Travis MeadowsÕ lap to get free shots at the Cabell Huntington Health Department on Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.
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HUNTINGTON — The Cabell-Huntington Heath Department is gearing up for a busy month, as children and college students head back to school.
For Nurse Director Jennifer Walls, back to school means time for immunization shots.
On Monday, the health department teamed up with Ronald McDonald House Charities to help make children feel more comfortable about getting their shots. They could meet and get their picture with Ronald McDonald, play on the inflatables, get their face painted or get a balloon animal.
“We’re trying to offer fun activities to encourage people to get vaccinated before school starts,” Walls said.
She said the department does the fun day in early August as a way to get people in early. As the first day of school draws nearer, the waiting room will start filling up, and lines will be longer, she said.
Under the federal Vaccine for Children program, anyone up to age 19 can go to the health department with no regard to residence or income level and get updated on vaccines.
For kids, it is especially important, Walls said. If a child is not up to date on vaccines when they come back to school, principals will send them home.
Hannah Dixon of Westmoreland knows the back-to-school shot routine. She’s been through it with her oldest son, Tanner, for four years. This year, her 5-year-old son Elijah will join his brother at Kellogg Elementary, and her daughter Campbell is going to Playmates in Kenova for preschool.
What Dixon didn’t know was that the health department offered the shots free and with no appointment.
“Even with a co-pay, it’s really expensive,” she said of taking the kids to their pediatrician. “This is free and you don’t need an appointment. Having four kids, that’s a lot less stress.”
