By Patricia Jones, Alliance Poverty Task Force
Nebraska Law requires that children shall be vaccinated or immunized against Polio, Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT), Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B, and Varicella (chicken pox). All of these used to be common childhood illnesses, and many were deadly.
Vaccines for Children (VFC) is a federally-funded and state-operated vaccination program. Vaccines are given at no cost, following the guidelines of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices). Many immunizations require multiple doses before a child builds up full immunity. VFC provides recommended vaccines at no cost to eligible children from birth through age 18 if they are American Indian, enrolled in Medicaid, uninsured, or underinsured. Children whose families have health insurance receive their vaccinations from their family doctor on their regularly scheduled check-ups.
Box Butte County children who are eligible for the VFC program can receive their vaccines in Alliance at three locations. Alliance Children’s and Allied Health, a pediatric clinic at 204 E 3rd St, can give VFC vaccines to children who are already established as clinic patients.
The Box Butte Immunization Clinic offers free vaccines every other Friday afternoon from 1:00-3:00 at Medical Arts Plaza by Box Butte General Hospital. Families are asked to phone Sharon Sulzbach at 308-762-3855 to schedule appointments, but walk-ins are accepted. Only VFC eligible children may receive vaccines at this clinic. 19 and older are eligible for vaccines through the state’s Adult Immunization Program.
Western Community Health Resources offers a vaccination clinic at 619 Box Butte, Alliance, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 10:00-2:00. They serve all who need vaccines. There is no cost for those who qualify for Vaccines for Children or for the Adult Immunization Program. Others are asked to bring their insurance card. Call 800-717-1231 to schedule an appointment.
Immunization records are filed with the Nebraska Immunization Information System using the child’s Social Security number, and copies are given to parents. Schools can also access the system to get the records they require.
In Nebraska, children can't attend classes in public or private school until the school has written proof of their immunization status. Each school in Nebraska is required to keep the vaccination history of all students enrolled. Information on the following three groups needs to be reported in November every year to the Nebraska Immunization Program: students entering school for the first time (preschool, kindergarten or 1st grade), 7th graders, and out-of-state transfer students (including foreign exchange students).
Each licensed child care program in Nebraska is required to keep the immunization history of every child enrolled in its program on file and report that information annually to the Nebraska Immunization Program.
There are two exemptions to the vaccination requirement. The required forms for exemptions are available at the web site for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: dhhs.ne.gov.
The first exemption recognizes that there are a few rare health issues that should be considered. The family needs to submit a statement signed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner that the required immunization would be injurious to the student or members of the student's family or household. These vulnerable children depend upon “herd immunity" for protection.
The second grants a religious exemption. The family needs to submit an affidavit signed by a legally authorized representative stating that the immunization conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized religious denomination of which the student is a member.
While there are exemptions to the immunization requirements, in Nebraska more than 97% of children are vaccinated. Students with exemptions on file may need to be excluded from school if there is an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease.
In the late 1940s, polio outbreaks in the U.S. affected more than 35,000 people each year, often leading to paralysis or death. Parents were frightened to let their children go outside, especially in the early summer when the virus peaked. In 1952 there were 58,000 cases; 3,145 deaths. Then came a breakthrough – Salk’s polio vaccine. Case numbers plummeted as more and more children were vaccinated. Thanks to the polio vaccine and parents who vaccinate their children on schedule, polio has been eliminated in this country for more than 40 years. Vaccines work!