Immunizations
protect kids and
the community
Health Department outlines
requirements and importance of
following shots schedule
Blue Mountain Eagle
JOHN DAY – The Grant County Health Department has
outlined the requirements and importance of immunizations
for youth in schools and childcare settings in Oregon.
According to Lindsay Maghan, FNP, shots are re-
quired for attendance at all elementary, middle and high
schools in Oregon – public, private, charter or alternative
– as well as all preschools, Head Start programs and cer-
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most because they provide protection for the person receiv-
ing them from contracting serious diseases. She said they
also help protect those around us and our communities by
reducing the number of people vulnerable to those diseases.
“When enough people are vaccinated, these diseases
tend to stop circulating,” Maghan said.
Outbreaks occur more frequently in schools and pro-
grams that serve young children, she added.
Oregon law requires the following shots for school
and child care attendance:
Diptheria
Tetanus
Pertussis
Polio
Varicella
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis A
Hib (only for children under age 5)
Oregon allows two types of exemptions: medical and
nonmedical. A medical exemption is signed by a physi-
cian or the county health department. A nonmedical one
is signed by a parent or guardian with an attached Vaccine
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about immunizations, either from a health care practi-
tioner or the online vaccine education module.
For information about exemptions, visit www.
healthoregon.org/vaccineexemption.
Immunizations need to be up to date, or exemption com-
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For more information, contact your health care pro-
vider, or call the Health Department at 541-575-0429.
Page 10 • 2015 Medical + Family Health Guide • MyEagleNews.com