The Twin Falls Office is currently out of Seasonal Flu Shot vaccine and Flu Mist, until sometime in early December.

This Week's H1N1 Vaccination Clinics

At this time, South Central Public Health District is NOT offering H1N1 (Swine) Flu vaccinations to the general public. We are scheduling clinics through local school districts and holding special clinics in our offices, in order to reach the priority groups first.

Our H1N1 Clinic Schedule has moved. Click here to see the schedule.

Immunization Clinic Schedule

All clinics offer immunizations by appointment.

Call your local office to schedule an appointment.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
1st Week	Burley Morning Rupert Afternoon	Bellevue Afternoon Gooding Afternoon Jerome Morning	Twin Falls Morning & Afternoon	Burley Afternoon Rupert Morning
2nd Week	Burley Morning Rupert Afternoon	Bellevue Afternoon Gooding Morning Jerome Afternoon	Twin Falls Morning & Afternoon	Burley Afternoon Rupert Morning
3rd Week	Burley Morning Rupert Afternoon	Bellevue Afternoon Jerome Morning Fairfield Morning even months Shoshone Morning & Afternoon odd months	Twin Falls Morning & Afternoon	Burley Afternoon Rupert Morning
4th Week	Burley Morning Rupert Afternoon	Bellevue Afternoon Gooding Morning Jerome Afternoon	Twin Falls Morning & Afternoon	Burley Afternoon Rupert Morning
5th Week	Burley Morning Rupert Afternoon	Bellevue Afternoon	Twin Falls Morning & Afternoon	Burley Afternoon Rupert Morning

Bellevue Office: 788-4335 117 East Ash Street Bellevue, ID 83313 Burley Office: 678-8221 2311 Park Ave, Unit 4, Ste 4 Burley, ID 83318 Gooding Office: 934-4477 145 7th Avenue East Gooding, ID 83330 Jerome Office: 324-8838 951 East Avenue H Jerome, ID 83338

Rupert Office: 436-7185 1218 9th Street, Ste 15 Rupert, ID 83350 Shoshone: 934-4477 104 W. B, Episcopal Church Shoshone, ID 83352 Twin Falls Office: 737-5900 1020 Washington St. N. Twin Falls, ID 83301

Immunization Services Fees FY-2010 (Protocol .151-C)

Immunization Consent Forms     English     Spanish

Influenza Information

Influenza

Each year, Seasonal Influenza, also known as "the flu," causes on average about 20,000 deaths in the U.S. alone. Most of those deaths are among seniors. Because flu season in the U.S. is generally from November to May and the vaccine generally lasts six months, vaccinations are best done in late October and early November. The following groups are high priority to be vaccinated every year:

• You are age 65 or older, no matter how healthy.

• You are living in a long-term care facility.

• You have serious long-term health problems like heart, lung, or kidney disease; diabetes; anemia or other blood disorders.

• Your immune system is weakened because of HIV/AIDS, cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs, or treatment with drugs such as long-term steroids.

• You will be more than 3 months pregnant during flu season

• Children between the ages of 6 months and 23 months. Two shots are required the first year, given one month apart.

Influenza Vaccine

Arrival time for the vaccine varies each year, so please contact your local South Central Public Health District office to find out when we are offering immunization clinics. We normally hold clinics during late October, November, December, and into January. The Centers for Disease Control said that it is still valuable to receive the flu vaccine in December, January and even February. The peak influenza season in south central Idaho is late January through early March. Adults develop antibody protection against influenza infection about two weeks after vaccination.

Influenza viruses are spread from person-to-person primarily through the coughing and sneezing of infected persons. The abrupt onset of fever, headache, severe discomfort, muscle tenderness or pain, nonproductive cough, sore throat, and a very runny nose characterize influenza. Covering your mouth when coughing and washing your hands often are good ways to also protect yourself from getting the flu, or others spreading it.

For Adults

Immunizations are provided to adults in each public health office. These include overseas immunizations, pneumonia and influenza, and routine adult immunizations. Contact the public health office in your local community for information on charges, clinic times, or to obtain an appointment.

See Also:
Recommendations on Adult Immunizations

Immunization Schedule for Adults

For Children

Vaccines help protect your child from many diseases. These diseases can cause serious health problems, including life-threatening illnesses, lasting disabilities, and brain damage. Some even cause death.

Children under age 2 are at special risk. They're more likely than older children to become very ill or disabled from a disease. That's why it's so important to vaccinate on time.

See Also:
Recommendations on Children's Immunizations

Immunization Schedule for Children

Preparing for Your Child's Vaccinations

For High School Graduates

For high school graduates who may be going on to college, several vaccinations are now recommended. Seventeen states require proof of meningitis vaccination before college entrance. Students should be current on the following vaccinations before they reach age 19. See the Immunization Schedule for Graduates for more information.

See Also:
Recommendations on Graduate's Immunizations

Immunization Schedule for Graduates

Overseas Vaccinations

A public health nurse advises the client of all shots recommended by the CDC and South Central Public Health District's medical director, or those that are normally required for each country they plan to visit. Travelers receive information about how to prevent insect bites and getting sick while traveling abroad.

The most common vaccines public health administers to overseas travelers are typhoid, hepatitis A, and yellow fever. In 1998, South Central Public Health District received 539 visits from clients seeking overseas vaccinations. In 1999, the number of visits dropped to 476, but jumped back up in 2000 to 611 visits.

One advantage of receiving shots at South Central Public Health District is the client's ability to have his or her shots recorded in the SCPHD Immunization Registry, a computerized database of all immunizations received by adults and children in the eight-county region. Patient's immunization records are always available, whether public health or private providers administer the immunizations. If the client gives his or her consent, the data is also entered into the state's immunization tracking registry. If the client moves to another area of Idaho, his or her new physician or another public health office can look up in the statewide registry what shots the client has had and when.

The Least Expensive Life Insurance You Can Buy

Charges for overseas vaccinations at public health are based on actual costs as reviewed and approved by the Board of Health. Some shots are less costly ($18 for polio vaccine) and some a bit more ($56 for a meningococcal vaccination.) Charges include the price of the vaccine, administration of the vaccine (up to $16), researching the client's required immunizations before his or her initial visit, and counseling the client on the best ways to avoid getting sick. It requires much less time to look up travel immunization recommendations for people going to western Europe or Mexico than it does for people going to Zaire.

For more information, contact the SCPHD Immunization Coordinator or call your local public health office.

IRIS Immunization Registry

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Immunization Program, was mandated in July 2000 by Governor Kempthorne to help increase Idaho's immunization rates to 90 percent. Immunization Reminder Information System (IRIS) information packets, patient and provider information brochures, enrollment forms, staff training and patient consent forms are available to you through your Pubic Health District or Private Provider offering free vaccines for children. We are happy to provide assistance with entering your consenting patients' immunization histories into the IRIS data bank and mail reminders to your patients to prompt them to return to your office for the next immunizations that are due. Again, there is no charge for any Public Health District service connected with immunization registries.

IRIS is a voluntary service provided to help increase immunization rates in Idaho. When your child's immunization records are in the IRIS database, you will receive automatic reminders in the mail each time your child is due for his or her next vaccination. Adults can also use the system to be reminded of tetanus shot intervals every ten years.

A signed consent is required for an adult or a child's immunizations to be entered into the IRIS database. IRIS is currently used by over 95% of medical providers in the eight county Public Health District, by most of the schools for verifying enrollment requirements for immunizations as well as most Day Care Centers to be in compliance with health and safety rules.

For more information, please contact your local South Central Public Health District office, or click on the IRIS logo link above.

How Vaccines Work

Vaccines help:

• Strengthen the body's immune (defense) system. Vaccines cause the body to make antibodies. These antibodies help the body fight disease. Vaccines are usually given by injection (a shot).

• Protect your baby throughout childhood. Once vaccines are given, antibodies continue to fight diseases for months or years. Some vaccines can protect for life. Others may need to be repeated.

• Keep diseases from spreading. When you have your baby vaccinated, you'll also be helping to protect other babies, children, and adults!

New Vaccines Available

Prevnar

• Prevnar protects your child against Pneumococcal disease, which is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis (an infection of the covering of the brain), blood infections, and ear infections.

• Recommended for infants and toddlers age 2 months through 23 months. Also recommended for both healthy children and those with chronic illness, age 2 to 5 years.

• The vaccine protects your child for at least three years.

Comvax

• Comvax is a combination vaccine. It protects against Haemophilus influenzae and Hepatitis B.

• Because it is a combination vaccine, it can decrease the number of shots given at the same visit to your doctor or clinic.

Vaccine Accountability

South Central Public Health District is assuring that children who receive immunizations through the Vaccine for Children program receive at least one reminder about the importance of staying on time with vaccinations if they miss a scheduled immunization. Physicians should follow established standards for vaccine storage, handling, usage, and administration policies and guidelines. Call the lead nurse at your local public health office for more information.

Vaccine Myths

It's important to learn all you can about vaccines and vaccine safety. Start by getting the facts.

Myth: Breastfed babies don't need to be vaccinated

Breastfeeding has many benefits for babies. It can help protect them from certain illnesses, but only for a short time. Vaccines can protect your baby for a long time - often for life!

Myth: Vaccines cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

There is no known cause of SIDS. The age at which many children die from SIDS is similar to the age when vaccines are first recommended. This is a coincidence, not a connection.

Myth: A lot of children get hurt by vaccines

Severe side effects from vaccines are very rare. It's a much greater health risk not to get vaccinated. Some children may have mild side effects, such as crankiness or a slight fever. These usually only last a few hours. Getting the disease can be far more dangerous and
painful.

Myth: Diseases are rare now. Vaccines are not really necessary

Certain diseases are rare in the U.S. because of vaccines. If we stopped using vaccines, diseases would spread very quickly - and many children would become very ill.

Myth: It is dangerous to give so many vaccines at the same time.

Studies show that giving several vaccines at one visit is safe and effective.