Health Services: Childhood Immunizations
Today children can be protected from 15 serious diseases by the time they are 12 years old. Compared to the early 1900's when only one vaccine was available for children, smallpox, we are now able to prevent the suffering and complications associated with diseases like measles, polio, whooping cough, chicken pox and hepatitis B.
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Clinic hours |
Walk-in Clinic Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Wednesday - 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
Open during the lunch hour
**You must present your child's immunization record.**
NOTE: The new Affordable Health Care Act is phasing in a requirement that insurance companies cover the cost of immunizations (often at no cost to the patient) when done by a Network Provider. You may call 258-4750 to find out if the Health Department is recognized as a Network Provider for your insurance company. Please bring your insurance card, if applicable. As of January, 2012, the Health Dept is billing insurance companies for children's immunizations only.
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Immunizations recommended for children |
- DTaP--Diptheria, Tetanus & Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Td or Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria & Pertussis for older children & adults
- MMR--Measles, Mumps & Rubella (German measles)
- Polio
- Hib Meningitis
- Varicella - chicken pox
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis A
- Influenza
- Prevnar - pneumonia
- Menactra - meningitis
- Gardasil - HPV, prevent cervical cancer
Center for Disease Control - 2011 Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule
Vaccines help prevent diseases that used to be the top killers of children in this country. Most of us have never had to witness the devastating effects of diseases like polio, whooping cough or measles in children. As a result, we may become complacent about immunizing our children. However, these diseases still exist and without immunizations can and do resurface.
Maintaining high rates of childhood immunizations protects not only vaccinated children, but also those too young or too ill to have completed their full series of shots. A reduction in immunization rates inevitably results in an increase in disease.
The Missoula City-County Health Department offers all vaccines for children and adults including federally funded vaccines for children aged 18 and under for routine childhood vaccines. A small administrative fee ($14.13 per vaccine) is charged on a sliding fee scale for children who are un-insured or under-insured coverage.
NO CHILD IS DENIED VACCINES DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY!
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Note: to assist parents in obtaining vaccines for their children, Montana offers federally funded vaccines for low or no charge. Ask your health care provider or the Missoula Health Department about the "Vaccines For Children" program. |
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Travel immunizations |
Other vaccines for adults and children are available for special circumstances or travel (such as Rabies, Yellow Fever, Typhoid Fever, etc) and new vaccines are always in development.
Travel clinic - Missoula Health Dept.
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Immunization Laws |
Immunizations required in Montana - Dept. of Health and Human Services
School
In order to be enrolled in kindergarten, children must have:
- at least four (4) doses of DTaP
- three (3) doses of Polio (one dose after their 4th birthday)
- two (2) doses of MMR (one dose must be on or after their 1st birthday)
- a Tetanus booster is required for 7th grade entry.
Note: some states are also starting to require Hepatitis B and Varicella for school entry.
Day Care
Immunization requirements for day care attendance are based on the child's age and generally follow the recommended childhood schedule for DTaP, Polio, Hib & MMR. By 18 months of age, a child must have received a minimum of 3 doses of DTaP, 2 doses of Polio, 1 dose of Hib & 1 dose of MMR. Also, a Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine is required by age 19 months. In addition, Head Start requires enrolled children to have completed their 3 dose series of Hepatitis B.
Thanks to state laws, the availability of low-cost vaccines and the cooperation of parents, Montana children can be spared from contracting or spreading these diseases in schools and day care.
Other information resources
- Information on infectious diseases - many are vaccine preventable
- Montana Immunization Program
- American Academy of Pediatrics - immunizations
- Immunization Action Coalition
- Vaccine Information. Org
- Complications from chicken pox
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