11/01/99

On Immunization

Note from Beth Bruno: In the spirit of "Helping Hands in CT," I wish to thank Ramona Anderson from the New Britain Health Department for providing this essential information about immunizations.

Immunizations & Area Resources

The goal of the New Britain Immunization Program is to ensure that all children are appropriately immunized by age two. The program provides education about vaccine preventable diseases and outreach services for immunizations. We work with health care providers to monitor the rates of immunization in the city of New Britain. We also work in conjunction with the state of Connecticut Immunization Program to make available educational materials and conferences that enhance professional competence in the area of vaccine preventable diseases. The New Britain Immunization Program also tracks children thought to be behind on immunizations and provides assistance to these families in obtaining immunizations for their children.

From the time a baby receives its first immunization in the hospital to the time a toddler turns two years old, a child needs to get 80% of the "shots" that will protect him or her from serious illnesses. These shots protect your baby from ten diseases:

1. Measles
2. Mumps
3. Rubella (German Measles)
4. Diphtheria
5. Tetanus
6. Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
7. Polio
8. Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib)
9. Hepatitis B
10. Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Today we might not think of these diseases as being very serious because, thanks to vaccines, we don't see them as often as we used to. But they can still be deadly. Measles used to kill hundreds -- sometimes thousands -- of people a year. In the 1920s, over 10,000 people a year died from diphtheria. And in the 1940s and '50s, tens of thousands of children were crippled and killed by polio. Even today, these diseases can lead to pneumonia, choking, brain damage, heart problems, and blindness in children who are not protected. And they still kill children every year.

What will happen if your child doesn't get these shots? Maybe nothing, if your child is never exposed to disease. But children are exposed to diseases. Most of these ten diseases are spread easily from person to person. If your child has not had her shots, and she is around someone who has measles, whooping cough, or one of the other childhood diseases, she will probably get sick too.

Are shots safe? Yes, very safe. But like any medicine they can occasionally cause reactions. Usually these are mild, like a sore arm or a slight fever. Serious reactions are rare, but they can happen. Your doctor or nurse will discuss these with you before giving the shots. The important thing to remember is that children are in much more danger from the diseases than from the shots.

Immunization Services in New Britain

Here is a listing of sites where immunizations can be obtained. Unless noted, these facilities have a nominal or sliding fee.

* Individual pediatricians can be found listed in the phone directory.

Community Health Center
1 Washington Square
New Britain, CT 06051
Phone # 224-3642
Call for Appointment

Visiting Nurse Association of Central Connecticut, Inc.
205 West Main Street - P.O. Box 1327
New Britain, CT 06050-1327
Phone # 224-7131
No Fee
Call for Appointment - Well Child Clinic

New Britain Health Department
31 High Street
New Britain, CT 06051
Phone # 826-3464
No Fee - Immunization Clinics on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays

New Britain General Hospital Pediatric Clinic
100 Grand St.
Phone # 224-5261
No Fee
Call for Appointment

ANNOUNCEMENT

Free Chicken Pox Vaccination Clinic to be held at the New Britain Health Department, 31 High Street, New Britain, CT. on Wednesday, November 17th, 1999 and Tuesday, December 7th, 1999 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

To obtain info about other immunization programs in CT, please call the Dept. of Public Health, Immunization Program, 860-509-7929.

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.