NEW CITY – Rockland County parents are encouraged to make sure your children get regular check-ups and vaccinations (immunizations, shots).
County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert say routine check-ups allow your child’s doctor to keep a close eye on your child’s general health, growth and development, and give them shots to help prevent many diseases. This time is also used to discuss ways to keep your child safe and healthy, and find health problems early, when chances for treatment are better.
It is important to follow the recommended immunization schedule to protect infants and children by providing protection early in life, before they are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. “From infants to older adults, timely immunizations are one of the most important ways to protect yourself and others from serious diseases and infections,” said Dr. Ruppert.
The Health Department’s Child Immunization Clinic provides immunizations for common childhood diseases, for children and adolescents enrolled in elementary through high school, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:45 AM – 11:00 AM at the Robert L. Yeager Health Center, Building A, 2nd floor Rotunda area. For appointments or more information, call (845) 364-2497.
A program called Vaccines for Children (VFC) provides free vaccines for eligible children 18 years of age or younger. For more information about the VFC program or childhood vaccines, call the Health Department at (845) 364-2662, or visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website at www.aap.org/immunization.
New York State has a health insurance plan for children, called Child Health Plus. Depending on your family’s income, your child may be eligible to join Medicaid or Child Health Plus for free or at a low cost. For more information, and help with enrolling, call (845) 364-3394 or visit http://bit.ly/2e6Abel.
