CCCHD Immunization Clinics provide routine vaccines for people of all ages. Immunization Clinics reduce and eliminate the spread of vaccine preventable diseases by providing vaccinations and educational services.
Our Nursing Division works to create a healthy community through the control of vaccine-preventable diseases. A vaccine-preventable disease is an infectious disease that has an existing vaccine.
You can schedule an appointment at any time by calling 937-390-5600. If you have stop by our facility and do not have an appointment, we will do our best to find an appointment time for you.
Please bring the following items with you to every appointment:
- Immunization (shot) record
- Insurance card(s)*
- Form of payment (if applicable): cash, check or credit card*
- Any custody or guardianship papers (if applicable)
- Photo ID for parent/legal guardian
The Clark County Combined Health District participates in the Vaccines For Children (VFC) Program that offers vaccines at no cost for VFC eligible children. Your child is eligible for the VFC Program from birth through 18 years of age and if he or she is one of the following:
- Medicaid eligible, or
- Uninsured, or
- Underinsured, or
- Underinsured means that your child has health insurance, but it:
- Doesn’t cover vaccines, or
- Doesn’t cover certain vaccines, or
- Covers vaccines but has a fixed dollar amount or cap for vaccines. Once that fixed dollar amount is reached, your child is then eligible for VFC vaccine.
- Underinsured means that your child has health insurance, but it:
- American Indian or Alaska Native.
An administration fee is requested for each VFC vaccine but no VFC eligible child will be denied VFC supplied vaccines due to inability to pay.
Recommended Immunizations for Children Birth Through 6 years old
Recommended Immunizations for Children 7-18 Years old
Vaccine Preventable Diseases
*For any vaccine not listed below, please contact us at 937-390-5600
**For more detailed information on Vaccine Preventable Diseases visit: Vaccines & Immunizations
What it is: Considered a rarity nowadays, diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by bacteria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that can lead to significant damage if left untreated.
How it spreads: A simple cough or sneeze is enough to transmit the bacteria from one person to another. The disease spreads easiest in highly concentrated and crowded areas, and poor hygiene enables the bacteria to spread more effectively.
What it causes: Throat infections result in a tough, grayish-black membrane that can block the airways. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure and even death. Other symptoms include:
- Bluish skin coloration
- Bloody, watery drainage from the nose
- Breathing problems
- Chills
- “Barking” cough
- Drooling
- Fever
- Hoarseness
- Painful swallowing
- Skin lesions
- Sore throat
What to do: Children should receive a series of five doses of DTaP vaccine at two, four and six months of age, then at 15-18 months of age, and again at four to six years old. Adults need to receive a Td booster every 10 years, with one of those doses being a dose of Tdap.
What it is: Influenza (a.k.a. the flu) is well known due to its common occurrence and contagiousness. The virus targets the respiratory system, resulting in mild to severe illness or in some instances death. Common strains of the virus include influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B. There are two basic types of flu virus:
Seasonal flu viruses break out in predictable seasonal patterns, most often during winter months. Most people build up partial immunity to these more common strains; this makes younger and older generations at higher risk for more serious infection.
Pandemic flu outbreaks occur much less regularly, but with much more serious complications. With no pre-existing immunity built up, even the healthiest of people can suffer serious problems when infected with the virus. Pandemic flu strains have overwhelming transmission rates and much higher death tolls than the seasonal flu. The most recent example of a pandemic flu was the swine flu outbreak in 2009.
Get more information on influenza here.
How it spreads: The flu virus typically spreads through sneezing, coughing or even talking. Touching infected surfaces also allows the virus to spread when the hand picks up the flu virus and then comes into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth.
What it causes:
- Fever or feverish chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
*Note – pandemic flu strains can involve more severe and complicated symptoms
What to do: The best prevention against the seasonal flu is yearly vaccinations. Doctors can prescribe antiviral medications if you’ve contracted the virus.
Be sure to take preventative steps during flu season. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as much as possible. Wash your hands often with soap and water or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and limit contact with sick people. If you become ill, stay at home at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
What it is: Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV).
How it spreads: Hepatitis A is spread when a person ingests fecal matter – even in microscopic amounts – from contact with objects, food or drinks contaminated by the stool of an infected person. Hepatitis A can also be spread from close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include: Fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, clay-colored stools and jaundice. People with hepatitis A can experience mild illness lasting a few weeks to severe illness lasting several months.
What to do: People who believe that they are at high risk for hepatitis A infection should contact their healthcare provider or call CCCHD for information about vaccination. People who know that they have been exposed to someone with hepatitis A should contact their healthcare provider CCCHD to discuss post-exposure vaccination options. Individuals who experience symptoms of hepatitis A should contact their healthcare provider.
Hepatitis A vaccine series consists of 2 doses of vaccine separated by 6 months.
What it is: Hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects the liver. It is caused by the Hepatitis B virus.
How it spreads: Hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. A person can be infected by:
- Contact with a mother’s blood and body fluids at the time of birth
- Contact with blood and body fluids through breaks in the skin such as bites, cuts or sores
- Contact with objects that could have blood or body fluids on them such as toothbrushes or razors
- Having unprotected sex with an infected person
- Sharing needles when injecting drugs
- Being stuck with a used needle on the job
What it causes: Hepatitis B can cause:
Acute (short-term) illness. This can lead to:
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Tiredness
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
- Pains in muscles, joints , and stomach
Acute illness is more common in adults. Children who become infected usually do not have acute illness.
Chronic (long term) infection. Some people can go on to develop chronic HBV infection. This can be very serious and often leads to:
- Liver damage (cirrhosis)
- Liver cancer
- Death
Chronic infection is more common among infants and children than among adults. People who are infected can spread HBV to others, even if they don’t appear sick.
In 2005, about 51,000 people became infected with Hepatitis B.
About 1.25 million people in the United States have chronic HBV infection.
Each year about 3,000 to 5,000 people die from cirrhosis or liver cancer caused by HBV.
What to do: Routine Hepatitis B vaccination of U.S. children began in 1991. Since then the reported incidence of acute hepatitis B among children and adolescents has dropped by more than 95% – and by 75% in all age groups.
Hepatitis B vaccine is given as a series of 3 or 4 shots. This vaccine series gives long-term protection from HBV infection, possibly lifelong.
Children and Adolescents:
All children should get their first dose Hepatitis B vaccine at birth and should have completed the series by 6-18 months of age.
Children and adolescents through 18 years of age who did not get the vaccine when they were younger should be vaccinated.
Often, college students living in on-campus housing must disclose their hepatitis B and meningococcal vaccination status.
Adults:
All unvaccinated adults at risk for HBV infection should be vaccinated. This includes:
- Sex partners of people infected with HBV
- Men who have sex with men
- People who inject street drugs
- People who have more than one sex partner
- People with chronic liver or kidney disease
- People who have jobs that expose them to human blood
- Household contacts of people infected with HBV
- Residents and staff in institutions for the developmentally disabled
- Kidney dialysis patients
- People who travel to countries where Hepatitis B is common
- People with HIV infection
Anyone else who wants to be protected from HBV infection may be vaccinated.
What it is: Genital human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States. More than half of sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at some time in their lives. Most HPV infections do not cause any symptoms, and go away on their own.
How it spreads: HPV is transmitted by direct contact, usually sexual, with an infected person. HPV transmission can be reduced, but not eliminated with the use of physical barriers, such as condoms.
What it causes: HPV can cause cervical cancer in women. Cervical cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the world. HPV is also associated with several less common cancers, such as vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and anal and oral cancer in both men and women. It can also cause genital warts and warts in the throat.
What to do: Gardasil 9 is Merck’s newest version of HPV vaccine and covers 9 strains of HPV. Gardasil 9 or HPV 9 is for both males and females.
Vaccine protection from Gardasil is recommended for all females and males at 11-12 years of age, with the vaccine given as a series of two or three doses.* The vaccination series can be started beginning at age nine years at the medical providers discretion. All females 11-26 years of age are recommended to start or complete a series of two or three doses of vaccine.*
Vaccine protection for males with the Gardasil two or three dose series* may be given beginning at age 9 through 26 years of age.
*Two dose or Three dose series is dependant on the age at which the vaccine is started and the the time between dose 1 and dose 2; check with your provider for more details.
Ideally, vaccine should be administered before potential exposure to HPV through sexual contact.
What it is: Measles is very contagious and can cause serious illness.
How it spreads: Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.
What it causes:
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash that starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body
People can spread measles before they show symptoms. Symptoms usually last 7-10 days.
What to do: Two doses of MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles for your child.
What it is: Mumps, a contagious disease that attacks the salivary glands, is a viral infection that is most common in children ages 2-12. The disease has also been known to target the central nervous system, pancreas and testes in men. While painful, the mumps usually isn’t severe in developed countries such as the United States. The disease can still affect adults, and males in particular can suffer damage to their reproductive system.
How it spreads: Like most infectious diseases, the mumps virus spreads through respiratory droplets from the nose, throat and mouth. Infection can also spread via direct contact with items contaminated with an infected person’s saliva.
What it causes: Normal symptoms include:
- Face pain
- Fever
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Swelling along the throat and/or between the ear and jaw
- Painful chewing
For men, the disease can show in testicular symptoms such as lumps, localized pain and scrotal swelling. These can lead to urinary and testicular complications including infertility.
What to do: The MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) two-dose immunization series protects against the mumps. The first dose is administered between the ages of 12-15 months and the second at four to six years of age. Generally anyone 18 years of age and older who was born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine, unless they can show proof that they have had either the vaccines or the disease.
What it is: More commonly referred to as the whooping cough, pertussis is an upper respiratory bacterial infection that causes coughing spells so bad that is it hard for infants to eat, drink or breathe. These spells can last for weeks at a time and can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and even death.
How it spreads: Respiratory droplets from the nose and mouth transmit the disease from person to person. Airborne bacteria released during a coughing fit can also carry the disease to a person nearby.
What it causes: Pertussis’ major symptom is severe coughing fits that cause the infected person to “whoop” as they take a breath. Initially, pertussis’ symptoms are similar to the common cold. Other symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Short loss of consciousness
- Choking
- Runny nose
- Slight fever
- Diarrhea
What to do: If the illness is caught early, antibiotics can reduce symptoms quickly. Even when antibiotics are administered too late in the diagnosis, medicine can limit the contagious bacterial spread. Children with pertussis should be constantly supervised and monitored. Older children should be kept on bed rest.
The DTaP vaccine is recommended to protect children against the pertussis disease. A series of five immunizations are given to children at two, four, six and 12-15 months of age, as well as four to six years of age. Vaccination with Td continues in 10-year intervals throughout life, with a one-time dose of Tdap given starting at age 11 and older to protect against pertussis.
What it is: Pneumonia is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by bacteria that target the upper respiratory tract. The bacteria causes blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis, mostly in young children. Infants and the elderly are most susceptible, and it is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in the U.S.
How it spreads: Saliva and other droplets from an infected person’s throat can transmit the bacteria from person to person. The bacteria can be carried in a person’s system without the carrier showing symptoms.
What it causes: Pneumococcal pneumonia, blood infections and meningitis can begin without warning, normally starting with shaking chills followed by:
- High fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid breathing
- Chest pains
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Muscle aches/pains
What to do: Antibiotics are available to treat pneumococcal pneumonia. Some forms of the bacteria have begun to build antibiotic resistance; healthcare providers should be consulted for further treatment options.
Vaccinations are available for both children and adults, and it’s recommended that young children and elderly adults get immunized. There are currently two types of vaccines available. Young children are routinely protected with the vaccine PCV13 at ages two, four, six and 12 months. The vaccine PPSV23 is available for persons beginning at age two years and older. Ask your medical provider about vaccine protection against pneumococcal disease.
What it is: Polio (poliomyelitis) is a viral disease that targets the nerves and leads to partial or sometimes full-on paralysis. Children are especially at risk, and their parents should take preventative measures to ensure protection. Basic patterns of polio are subclinical infections, nonparalytic polio and paralytic polio. Although there have been no reported cases in the U.S. in over 30 years, the disease is still common in some parts of the world.
How it spreads: Person-to-person contact allows the virus to spread, most commonly through contact with infected feces, mucus or phlegm.
What it causes: Symptoms of polio are wide-ranging depending on the level of severity. Check with your healthcare provider or CCCHD if you think you or your child has polio. Paralysis, although commonly associated with polio, only occurs in less than one percent of cases. Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches, localized pain/stiffness
- Loss of reflexes
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Nausea/vomiting
What to do: Inactivated poliovirus immunization effectively prevents poliomyelitis in most people (immunization is over 90% effective). Children receive four doses of vaccine at two, four and six to 18 months, and a booster dose at ages four to six years. Most adults do not need polio vaccine because they have already been vaccinated as children.
What it is: Rotavirus is a virus that causes diarrhea (sometimes severe) mostly in babies and young children. Often it is accompanied by vomiting and fever. Before vaccines were administered to children, almost every child in the U.S. was infected before the age of 5. If not properly managed, a rotavirus infection can lead to infant mortality.
How it spreads: The virus travels via a fecal-oral route, often due to lack of hand washing and disinfection of nearby objects. It can be spread through respiratory discharge, along with contaminated hands, surfaces and objects.
What it causes: Rotavirus infection is associated with the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Watery diarrhea
- Low-grade fever
- Dehydration
After their first exposure, children gradually build immunity to the virus.
What to do: No specific treatment plan means the rotavirus should be dealt with through its symptoms. Specifically, infected individuals should keep their fluid levels up to avoid dehydration.
Preventing the rotavirus comes with timely vaccination. Receiving the rotavirus vaccine is highly effective in protecting you and your children from infection. The vaccines available are given orally in either a two- or three-dose series.
What it is: Also known as the German measles or the three-day measles, rubella is a mild viral infection that often goes unnoticed. Serious complications arise if a pregnant mother contracts the disease within the first weeks of her pregnancy, she could have a miscarriage or her child could be at risk for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Aside from this, most cases of rubella are relatively negligible.
How it spreads: The rubella virus commonly transmits between people through the air or by close contact. Those sick with the rubella virus can pass the infection one week before and one week after the rash appears.
What it causes: The telltale sign of rubella is a skin rash which spreads from the face to the trunk and limbs, then disappears after three days. Children generally show few to no symptoms, while adults can experience the following along with the rash:
- Fever
- Headache
- General discomfort
- Runny nose
- Bloodshot eyes
- Muscle/joint pain
- Bruising (rare)
What to do: Vaccination with the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is the best protection against rubella. Most women will have a test for immunity by their physician prior to pregnancy. The MMR vaccine is routinely given to all children at 12-15 months, with a second dose at ages four to six years.
What it is: Shingles is a painful skin rash, often with blisters. It is also called Herpes Zoster and it is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Only someone who has had chickenpox, or rarely, the chickenpox vaccine, can get shingles.
How it spreads: Shingles can not be transmitted to another person. However, a person who has NOT had chickenpox (or chickenpox vaccine) could get chickenpox from someone with shingles. This is not very common. The Herpes Zoster virus stays in your body after the chickenpox, and can cause shingles many years later. When the immune system is weak because of a disease such as cancer, or drugs such as steroids or chemotherapy, the virus appears as a case of shingles.
What it causes: A shingles rash usually appears on one side of the face or body and lasts from 2-4 weeks. The main symptom is pain, which can be quite severe. About 20% of persons who get shingles can suffer from severe pain, called post-herpetic neuralgia that can last long after the rash is gone.
What to do: Seek care from your medical provider. Sometimes anti-viral medications can lessen the severity of shingles. Prevention is offered from the shingles vaccine. Even if you have had a case of shingles in the past, you should receive the vaccine. Recommendation for the vaccine includes ALL persons age 50 years and older should receive two doses of the vaccine called SHINGRIX.
SHINGRIX vaccine has been challenging to keep in stock and the manufacturer bellieves there will continue to be limited supply capabilities for all providers throughout 2020.
If you are interested in getting SHINGRIX, please call the health department to see if it available. You will also need to see if your insurance plan covers the vaccine (Not all insurances cover SHINGRIX at the health district).
What it is: Referred to as lockjaw, tetanus is a bacterial infection of the nervous system. Bacterial spores release poison in the body, causing damaging muscle spasms. It has the potential to be deadly if not treated properly.
How it spreads: Spores that reside in soil enter the body through an open wound. A sharp, dirty object like rusted metal or rose bush thorn often introduces the bacteria into a person’s system.
What it causes: The nervous system begins suffering and showing symptoms through painful tightening of the jaw muscles as well as the chest, neck, back and abdomen. Further symptoms include:
- Breathing problems
- Drooling
- Excessive sweating
- Fever
- Hand/foot spasms
- Irritability
- Swallowing difficulty
- Uncontrolled urination, defecation
What to do: Once infected, a person with tetanus should undergo antibiotics and get plenty of bed rest. Tetanus immune globulin, muscle relaxers, sedatives and surgery to clean the entry wound also offer treatment options.
Tetanus is completely preventable by way of proper immunization. DTaP vaccine is available for infants and children and is given at two, four, six and 12-15 months, with a booster at ages four to six years. Td and Tdap vaccine is available for persons age seven years and older, and it is recommended to be given every 10 years. Tdap is to be given only once after age 11. Adults should replace one of the 10-year booster shots with Tdap.
What it is: This common childhood illness is brought on by the varicella-zoster virus. The disease is distinguishable by the hundreds of itchy, fluid-filled blisters that cover an infected person’s body. Most cases occur before a child’s 10th birthday, with cases in older children and adults tending to be more severe.
How it spreads: Chickenpox can easily spread through contact with the blister fluid or an infected person’s respiratory droplets. The virus can also pass through the air, making the disease highly contagious.
What it causes: As the main symptom, the red itchy blisters that appear with chickenpox occur over the face, torso or scalp and then spread to the rest of the body. The blisters may leave scars if scratched and exposed to infection.
Other symptoms are:
- Fever
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Loss of appetite
The disease can also lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage or death. A person who has had chickenpox can get a painful rash called shingles years later. Before the vaccine, about 11,000 people were hospitalized each year, and 100 deaths per year were attributed to chickenpox.
What to do: Anyone who is not fully vaccinated and has never had the chicken pox should receive one or two doses of the vaccine. The timing of these doses depends upon the person’s age. The routine schedule for children is the first dose will be given at age 12-15 months and the second dose is given at age four to six years.