The DeKalb County Health Department hosting an immunization clinic Friday with extended hours for students and working families.
DeKalb Health Department Director Michael Railing said the department is one of the largest providers of childhood immunizations. He said the goal is to ensure students do not face enrollment setbacks or interruptions once school starts.
“We always want to promote the immunizations in the community, in the public, to just emphasize the importance of getting those,” Railing said. “There are still individuals out there that may not have those. Some elect maybe not to get their child immunized either through medical exceptions or religious exemptions, but we really want to encourage everyone to protect themselves, to also protect those others in the community.”
Railing said the clinic is open to anyone, though it specifically targets students who are out for the summer or parents who need to arrive after 4:30 p.m. Railing said while the health department schedules immunization appointments on a regular basis, these clinics serve as a focused effort to promote public health.
“We are one of the largest providers of childhood immunization clinics, so we want to make sure that people are, students are able to go to school and, and enroll in the fall semester and not have any setbacks or be sent home,” Railing said.
Railing said the clinic provides all childhood vaccinations, including the chickenpox vaccine, but does not offer the COVID vaccine. Railing said the department follows a specific immunization schedule from birth through age 18 that outlines different requirements for students entering kindergarten and seventh grade, including Hepatitis and Polio shots.
“We can do catch-up schedules, but it’s not as traumatic on the child if you follow those schedules and get those spaced out periodically as opposed to having to do multiples in a setting,” Railing said.
Railing said maintaining updated immunizations is vital for the protection of both the individual and the community through herd immunity. Railing said the re-emergence of diseases like measles across the country is a result of people falling behind on their shots.
“Things that were nearly, if not eradicated, are now starting to show their head a little bit again because individuals are not maintaining those updated immunization requirements,” Railing said.
Railing said the department addresses concerns about vaccine safety by relying on professional citations and medical science from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics. Railing said his nursing staff is well-practiced and experienced in working with children.
“All of my nurses have had children or have children at that school-age area now, and so they’re really loving and caring,” Railing said.
Railing said parents should call to schedule an appointment for the clinic and should bring a paper copy of their child’s updated shot record if it is available. Railing said while the department can look up records in their system if the vaccines were given by a provider that uploads data, having a physical copy is preferred.
