Have You Gotten All Your Shots? We're Not Just Asking Because School is Starting

National Immunization Month is a good time to remind ourselves that vaccines help protect us from serious diseases, say Rockland health officials.

“Talk with your doctor to make sure that you and your family are up to date,” said Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, Rockland County Commissioner of Health. “Vaccines not only help protect you and your family, but also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases like the flu, measles, and pertussis (whooping cough).”

One of these four items may help you:

• Evening Immunization Clinic for children aged 5 to 18, from 4-6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Robert Yeager Health Center, Building A, 2nd floor, in Pomona. To make an appointment, call (845) 364-2497 or (845) 364-2520.
• The Health Department offers other clinics where residents of all ages can get their shots, including shots needed for foreign travel. For more information visit the webpage or call (845) 364-2520.
• For more informationabout what shots you and your family need and when to get them, talk with your doctor, or visit the website of the National Centers for Disease Control.
• Most health insurance plans cover the cost of recommended vaccines. If you need help payingfor your children’s vaccines, a program called Vaccines for Children (VFC) can provide free or low cost vaccines for eligible children. For more information about the VFC program or childhood vaccines, call (845) 364-2662, or visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website.