St. Charles County Department of Community
Health & The Environment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2, 2007

CONTACT:

Gil Copley, Director                                                                                                                           636−949−7415
Cameron Satterfield, Public Information Officer                                                                               636−949−7408

A Little Sting Prevents So Many Things

Make sure immunizations are up−to−date before heading back to school

St. Charles County, MO - As students gear up for the new school year, the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment is reminding parents to make sure their children are up to date on their immunizations.

Gil Copley, director of the Department of Community Health and the Environment, said, "While no one looks forward to an injection, the benefits of preventing serious vaccine−preventable diseases far outweigh the mild discomfort of a shot and the low risk of side effects. Immunizations are an important step in keeping kids healthy and ready to learn."

The state of Missouri requires all children to be up to date on required immunizations. A complete list of vaccination requirements is available at www.scchealth.org or by calling (636) 949-7400. Students who have recently moved into Missouri should check with the health department to find out if their shots are up to date. Parents with children heading off to college should check with the school for their specific immunization requirements.

Families with health insurance are encouraged to obtain vaccinations from their health care provider. However, required immunizations are available from the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Vaccinations are offered at the health department facility at 1650 Boone's Lick Road in St. Charles every weekday except Thursday. Office hours are 8:30 to 11:00am and 1:30 to 4:30pm. Hours are extended until 5:30pm on Tuesdays and until 7:00pm on the second Tuesday of the month.

For more information about the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment, call (636) 949-7400 or visit www.scchealth.org.

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