Hepatitis A Vaccines for Children
WVLT-TV Knoxville, TN
A Hepatits A outbreak last year in Campbell County sickend more than 60 people.
Volunteer TV's Eric Waddell updates us on the on-going effort to eliminate the virus from the community.
State health officials are making a final push to get children vaccinated across Campbell County. The reason, the hope is that the spring and summer of 2006 will not hold the same type of problems that happened with Hepatitis A in 2005.
"We have not had a new case of Hepatitis A in Campbell County since September of last year, so we are very encouraged that the vaccination effort is doing what it needs to do," Sandy Halford from the Health Department said.
The shots they are giving are free to children two to five. Despite that, only about 50 percent of parents that got shots for their children earlier have returned for the second and final round of booster shots.
"We really want to make a push to remind parents, get your child back in for that second dose. Even though we have not had any more acute cases of Hepatitis A, it is not the time to get get slack," Halford said.
Also, Health Department officials are working with the schools in Campbell County to schedule a date in the near future for older students to get their shots.
"It was offered to all of our students K-12 and almost all of our students in K-12 did receive the shot," school director Judy Blevins said.
Health officials also stress that along with the vaccines they are giving, hand washing is still the key to keeping away Hepatitis A.
Shots for children 2 to 5 years old who received their first dose of the Hepatitis A vaccine will be given March 10th, 13th, 15th, 20th 22nd 29th and 31st at the Campbell County Health Department. No appointment is necessary.
