July 28--Dr. Marsha Griffith of the Brownsville Community Health Center has some straightforward advice for parents with school-age children: Make sure they're up to date on their shots. Do it now, not later.
"Don't wait around because everyone waits around and then it's a mad dash at the end," Griffith said Monday, stressing the importance of childhood immunizations as a disease-prevention measure.
"People ask, 'where did all the diseases go?'" Griffith said. "You don't see children being hospitalized or dying or being disabled like you used to but it doesn't mean we don't need to vaccinate. It's not just that they can't get into school without their shots. These vaccinations prevent disease."
Griffith also said it's important that children receive recommended booster shots to make sure their level of protection is as high as possible. Even though health clinics and school nurse offices keep shot records on file, she advised parents to maintain their childrens' own immunization cards so nothing gets missed.
"Bring your immunization card and we can see what we need to vaccinate for in time for school," she said, adding that "parents can come here and receive all of the vaccinations that their child needs for $8 regardless of the number of shots, plus the tuberculosis test for $10 more."
The Brownsville Independent School District recommends that all immunization requirements be completed by Aug. 13, and cleared by the school nurse in order to protect student health and avoid lost instructional time.
BISD and BCHC jointly operate Campus Care Centers at Lucio Middle School, 300 N. Vermillion Road and Skinner Elementary, 411 W. St Charles St. The first day of school is Aug. 23.
BISD school nurses no longer provide tuberculosis testing to students. All students who are new to the district must complete a TB questionnaire and show proof of a previous TB test before they will be allowed to enroll.
Another good way to stay current on required immunizations, as well as health needs for the entire family, is Operation Lone Star.
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