CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH LAUNCHES PRETEEN VACCINE WEEK

NUMBER:  08-03

DATE:  Jan. 18, 2008

CONTACT:  Suanne Buggy or Lea Brooks, (916) 440-7259.

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), will launch California’s Preteen Vaccine Week at a youth soccer tournament in San Diego tomorrow.

“Ensuring our preteens are immunized is something we can do to protect California’s youth from a variety of diseases including whooping cough and tetanus,” said Horton. “Immunizations are one of the best ways to prevent the spread of some serious diseases in our communities and schools.”

California’s Preteen Vaccine Week is January 20-26th. This year’s theme is “Immunizations are your best shot!”  Events throughout the state will highlight the importance of a doctor’s visit and immunizations for 11 and 12 year olds.   In San Diego, the event will include appearances by LA Galaxy soccer players and a testimony from a survivor of meningococcal disease.

“Preteen vaccinations can help our youth stay healthy as they approach adolescence,” Horton said.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all 11-and 12-year-olds receive a meningococcal vaccine, a Tdap booster and a second chickenpox shot (if they’ve never had chickenpox disease). The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which prevents most cases of cervical cancer, is recommended for girls.

Further information about preteen vaccines is available at  www.cdph.ca.gov.  For more information about immunization requirements and vaccine-preventable diseases, contact your physician or local health department immunization program or go to www.GetImmunizedCa.org . Local health departments provide low-cost or free immunizations for children without health insurance.