CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION SERVICES

The Howard County Health Department provides opportunities for children to receive required childhood immunizations during monthly community clinics and by appointment at the Columbia and Southeastern Health Department offices.

Eligibility

• Free immunizations to children ages BIRTH through AGE 18.
• Walk-in clinics held at area high schools. (Link to clinic schedule)
• A parent/guardian must accompany the child to the clinic.
• Please bring the child's immunization record.

What routine immunizations does my child need?

And what diseases are prevented?

• DPT protects against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus(lockjaw).
• IPV or OPV protects against polio (can cause paralysis of the arms and legs).
• MMR protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
• HEPATITIS B protects against Hepatitis B which can cause liver damage.
• VARIVAX protects against chickenpox.
• HIB protects against Haemphilus Influenza B which causes brain infections and brain damage.
• PREVNAR protects against respiratory and ear infections, as well as pneumonia.

New School Immunization Requirements Beginning September 1, 2002:

Both:

VARICELLA (chicken pox vaccine) or PROOF of IMMUNITY

And:

HEPATITIS B Vaccine Will be REQUIRED for all pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st Grade enrollees.

This is in addition to the existing DTaP, Polio, and MMR Requirements.

For additional information, call the following Howard County Health Department locations:

Columbia Health Center: 410-313-7500
Southeastern Health Center: 410-880-5888