In recognition of National Infant Immunization Week (April 13-19, 2003), the Nassau County Department of Health reminds everyone that it is important to vaccinate young children according to current recommendations. New immunization recommendations, as of January, 2003, are that children aged 6 months and older, with certain risk factors -- such as sickle cell anemia, asthma, cardiac disease, diabetes, HIV, and living with people who are at high risk for complications of influenza -- receive influenza vaccine during the fall and winter months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

By age two, all children should have the following immunizations: 4 doses of DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); 3 doses of polio, 1 dose of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), 3 doses of hepatitis B, 3 doses of haemophilus influenza (meningitis), 1 dose of varicella (chicken pox) and 4 doses of pneumococcal vaccine.

The percent of two-year old children in Nassau County who have received all the recommended immunizations, except for varicella and pneumococcal vaccines, has increased significantly to 84% in 2002 from a rate of 70% five years ago. The national goal is to have 90% of two-year-old children fully immunized by the year 2010.

It is extremely important to protect the health of our children by immunizing them against these diseases. These diseases can spread rapidly among children who are not immunized and can have severe consequences to the very young as well as to adults who were not immunized as children.

Families are encouraged to check with their doctors to make sure every child's immunizations are up to date. All children are required by New York State law to have certain immunizations before they can start nursery school, preschool programs, day care or kindergarten.

Many Nassau County physicians have participated in the Health Department's program to assess the immunization levels of the county's two-year old residents. The physicians have received Certificates of Recognition and Excellence from both the New York State and Nassau County Commissioners of Health for their role in the statewide Provider Based Immunization Initiative.

For information about immunizations, call the Nassau County Department of Health's Immunization Program at 571-1680.