Some Kids Not Immunized In School Year

A new report shows Georgia schools enrolled children who were missing required vaccinations or having no records at all in the 2008-09 school year. Data obtained by the Atlanta Journal Constitution shows across the state, more than 8-thousand kindergartners and 6th graders missed key vaccine doses when audits were done last fall-already a few weeks into the school year. Those vaccines are required under Georgia’s school immunization law. The records show more than 60 schools were not properly immunized.

Flu shots available in W. Ga.

The Columbus Department of Public Health and the West Central Health District report that they have received supplies of influenza vaccine, for the winter flu season.

The flu shots will be restricted to Georgia residents of the following counties, and will be distributed at their local health departments this coming Monday, September 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m:

Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee (Columbus), Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster.

The vaccine will be available on a walk-in basis to the general public and high-risk population for $23.00 apiece, and pneumonia vaccine will cost $14.00, according to a statement by the West Central Health District (WCHD).

The WCHD recommends vaccinations for the following high-risk populations:

• Adults age 65 years or older
• All children aged 6-23 months
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Health-care workers involved in direct, hands-on, face-to-face patient care
• Pregnant women
• Children aged 6 months-18 years on chronic aspirin therapy
• Individuals who live with or care for one or more children less than 6 months of age
• Individuals with long-term health problems such as heart disease; kidney disease; lung diseases like asthma; metabolic diseases like diabetes, blood disorders like anemia; a weakened immune system caused, for example, by cancer or cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS, or steroid therapy; or certain conditions such as neuromuscular disorders that can cause breathing problems.

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Vaccination dispute in State Supreme Court

A couple who sued a drug manufacturer when their son stopped speaking after receiving his childhood vaccinations will argue their case before the State Supreme Court today.

Marcelo and Carolyn Ferrari are appealing a lower court ruling that protects vaccine manufacturers against liability lawsuits.

Georgia law requires all children be vaccinated against potentially deadly diseases like Diptheria, Tetanus, and whooping cough.