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August 12, 2015
Free Vaccines for Clark County Students
Youth under the age of 19 are
able to get free immunizations
to keep themselves up to date
and healthy for the approaching
school year. All vaccines required
to enroll in school in the State of
Washington are free, though some
administrators may charge a small
administrative fee, which can be
waived for low-income families
who ask. Vaccinations protect
children from many serious dis-
eases and are required for most
students entering various grade
levels. Sometimes, the cost of
immunization can be prohibitive,
but Clark County students can go
to a number of clinics and receive
them free of charge.
Part of the push for wide-
spread immunization comes after
Clark County experienced a large
whooping couch outbreak in 2015,
with 259 cases as of late July,
compared with only 25 cases by
this time last year. “We’re starting
to see fewer new cases now school
is out and kids aren’t spending as
much time in close contact,” said
Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County
Health Officer. “However, we’re
concerned that this potentially se-
rious disease could make a come-
back in the fall, after school starts.
My message to parents is to please
make sure your kids are current
on their whooping cough vaccines
Children require immunizations to enroll in Washington schools and this year they’re being offered
free of charge to families in need.
and all other recommended vac- required to stay current on their or personal reasons. Clark Coun-
cines.”
vaccinations to enroll in school. ty’s vaccine exemption rate is
Most Washington students are However, just over 5% of Wash- even higher at 7%, and ranged up
ington’s students in the last school to 43% in local schools. “This is
year were exempted for religious concerning because many diseas-
es require high vaccination rates
to ensure there’s enough wide-
spread immunity in the population
to protect others who have not de-
veloped immunity or are unable to
get vaccinated,” said Dr. Melnick.
A number of clinic options
are available. The Battle Ground
Community Center, 912 E. Main
St. will host their free immuni-
zation clinic on Friday, Aug. 21
from 3 to 6 p.m. by appointment,
which can be made by calling
(360) 566-4409. The Free Clinic
of Southwest Washington, 4100
Plomondon St. will offer a walk-
in immunization service for un-
insured children only on the first
and third Wednesday of the month
from 5 to 7 p.m. and can be reached
at (360) 313 – 1390. Hudson Bay
High School, 1601 E. McLough-
lin Blvd. will offer a back-to-
school immunization clinic on
Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m. and can be reached
at (360) 313-4733. The Sea Mar
Community Health Centers at
7410 E. Delaware Lane will offer
their free vaccinations for children
under the age of 19 on Thursday,
Aug. 27 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
by appointment only and can be
reached at (360) 566 – 4409. For
more information, Clark County
residents are encouraged to visit
doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvi-
ronment/Schools/Immunization/
VaccineRequirements.
Faith Leader Open to Change
Welcomes
women into
Baptist leaders
group
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The Rev. J. Walter Hills II of
New Hope Missionary Baptist
Church will lead a group of histor-
ically black churches in Portland.
Rev. Hills was installed as mod-
erator of the Portland Union Bap-
tist District Association at their
60th annual session last month.
The group represents affiliated
African-American Baptist church-
es in Portland.
The outgoing moderator, Rev.
Carland Allen of Greater Mt. Gil-
lard Baptist Church, was recog-
nized during the session for his
leadership for the past five years.
Additionally, installed as the vice
moderators were The Rev. Craig
Brown of the St. Paul Baptist
Church and The Rev. Victor Reyn-
olds of the New Covenant Baptist
Church.
Rev. Hills hails from Colum-
bia, S.C., and recently celebrated
his second anniversary as the pas-
tor of New Hope. The 32 year old
Rev. J. Walter Hills II
also serves as Third Vice President
of the General Baptist Convention
of the Northwest.
In a message to his fellow faith
leaders, he said he wanted to be an
agent for change, to build “strong
leaders, stronger churches, better
people and a better district.”
One of his recommendations
was to open the group’s member-
ship to those churches who have
female pastors. The district tradi-
tionally has been one which reg-
istered churches with male pastors
only.
His other plans include intro-
ducing new ministries and pro-
grams, engaging and investing in
our youth, and much more.
Rev. Hills is married to the for-
mer Rhyan Michelle Adams, and
they are the parents of two children.