The Amador County Public Health Department reports an increasing number of chickenpox cases at Pine Grove Elementary School over the past eight weeks. Twenty cases have been identified since April, seven of which have occurred in one second grade class. “We have been strongly advising parents to check their child’s shot records. If only one dose of chickenpox vaccine is recorded, parents are encouraged to obtain a second dose as soon as possible,” states Lori Jagoda, the Health Department’s Immunization Coordinator. “Several notices have gone out to Pine Grove parents notifying them of this recommendation. Summer vacations will be here soon and it would be unfortunate to have activities cancelled because of this preventable disease.” “People often ask why we need to prevent a disease as mild as chickenpox,” says Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. The fact is, chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that can develop into serious illness in some children.” One of the more common complications of chickenpox is a blister becoming infected. A chickenpox infection typically lasts about ten days and once infected, your body self-protects against another infection for life. The good news is chickenpox can be prevented. Some parents purposely seek to get their children infected with the virus, believing that it is better to be infected “naturally” rather than “artificially” or that immunity will be more permanent with a vaccine. However, when a safe vaccine is available, parents need to weigh the supposed benefits of infection against its potential risks, including severe disease with complications such as infection with flesh eating bacteria. Contact your health care provider to schedule a visit for your child to receive the vaccine. The Amador County Public Health Department is offering low cost immunization clinics. Call 223-6697 to hear the clinic schedule.
Tuesday, 03 June 2008 01:36
High Number of Chickenpox Cases at Pine Grove Elementary
The Amador County Public Health Department reports an increasing number of chickenpox cases at Pine Grove Elementary School over the past eight weeks. Twenty cases have been identified since April, seven of which have occurred in one second grade class. “We have been strongly advising parents to check their child’s shot records. If only one dose of chickenpox vaccine is recorded, parents are encouraged to obtain a second dose as soon as possible,” states Lori Jagoda, the Health Department’s Immunization Coordinator. “Several notices have gone out to Pine Grove parents notifying them of this recommendation. Summer vacations will be here soon and it would be unfortunate to have activities cancelled because of this preventable disease.” “People often ask why we need to prevent a disease as mild as chickenpox,” says Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. The fact is, chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that can develop into serious illness in some children.” One of the more common complications of chickenpox is a blister becoming infected. A chickenpox infection typically lasts about ten days and once infected, your body self-protects against another infection for life. The good news is chickenpox can be prevented. Some parents purposely seek to get their children infected with the virus, believing that it is better to be infected “naturally” rather than “artificially” or that immunity will be more permanent with a vaccine. However, when a safe vaccine is available, parents need to weigh the supposed benefits of infection against its potential risks, including severe disease with complications such as infection with flesh eating bacteria. Contact your health care provider to schedule a visit for your child to receive the vaccine. The Amador County Public Health Department is offering low cost immunization clinics. Call 223-6697 to hear the clinic schedule.
