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Immunization Program
 Immunizations are an excellent way to protect against many serious diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a series of immunizations to protect your children against 12 different diseases.
Immunization appointments are available in Bend, Redmond, and La Pine. Evening appointments available in Bend.
When visiting the Health Department for immunizations, please bring a current shot record on each child and health insurance information (if applicable). We will not deny service for inability to pay.
For questions and/or to schedule an immunization appointment at one of our clinics please click here: Clinic Information
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School Immunization Requirements
Starting 2008/2009 school year the state of Oregon will require more shots for school attendance. As your child enters Kindergarten in the year 2008 or later the State will require:
- 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
- 5 doses of DTaP vaccine
- 4 doses of Polio vaccine
- 2 doses of Measles vaccine
- 1 dose varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or confirmation that your child has had chickenpox disease
- 2 doses of Hepatitis A vaccine (this is a new requirement)
In addition to the above vaccines, incoming 7th graders will also need:
Shots for Tots
"Shots For Tots" is an immunization program for the children of Deschutes County (Birth - 18 years of age) sponsored jointly by the Deschutes County Rotary Clubs, the Deschutes County Health Department and the Deschutes County Immunization Coalition. Click here for the dates, times, and locations of the next clinic in your area www.shotsfortots.org
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Immunization Saves Young Lives
Measles is the number one vaccine-preventable disease that kills infants worldwide. Failure to immunize can lead to new outbreaks of this disease. Between 1989 and 1991, a United States measles epidemic resulted in more than 55,000 reported cases, 11,000 hospitalizations and approximately 103 deaths. More than half of those deaths were infants.
Pertussis remains as the only vaccine-preventable disease that has increased in incidence in the United States in the last 20 years. Oregon's incidence has remained similar to that for the United States over the last few years until 2002 when it increased to 5.51/100,000 population, twice that of the United States at 2.72/100,000. www.pertussis.com/pointers.html
In the era before vaccines, millions of American children died from childhood diseases. Today children who are not immunized or up-to-date on their shots are still at risk of serious illness, particularly infants. Infants are more likely to suffer more complications - even death - if they contract a vaccine-preventable disease.
Age-appropriate immunizations start at birth and continue through adulthood, with special emphasis through age two.
Commonly Asked Questions About Childhood Immunization:
Q: What diseases do immunizations protect against?
A: Measles, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, mumps, rubella (German measles), hepatitis-B, haemophilius influenza type B (the most common type of serious spinal meningitis), varicella (chicken pox), hepatitis A, human papillomavirus (HPV), pneumococcal and meningococcal diseases, and influenza.
Q: Are these diseases really a threat today?
A: Yes. Although these diseases are less common today, they still pose a serious threat to our children. Thanks to vaccines, we don't see the diseases as often as we used to.
Q: Will vaccines make my child sick?
A: Most children have little or no problem after receiving the vaccines. After the DTaP (Diptheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis) vaccines, some children will experience a fever, soreness, swelling or redness where the shot was given. Some children may also get cranky, drowsy, or lose their appetite during this time. These problems are usually mild and disappear within a day or two.
If you are unsure as to whether your child has had all of his or her shots, check with your health care provider.
For more information on vaccines, including vaccine safety, please visit the following websites:
National Network for Immunization Information
Immunization Action Coalition
CDC National Immunization Program
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center
Adult Immunization: Who Needs It and Why Immunize?
The widespread implementation of childhood vaccination programs has substantially reduced the occurrence of many vaccine-preventable diseases. However, adults may be at risk of these diseases and their complications, if they escaped natural infection or have not been vaccinated with toxoids or vaccines against diphtheria, measles, tetanus, pertussis, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox) and poliomyelitis. In addition, other vaccine-preventable diseases (hepatitis B, hepatitis A, influenza, and pneumococcal disease) may pose a risk to persons in certain age, occupational, environmental, and life-style groups and those with special health problems. Women of childbearing age should be fully immunized to protect themselves and, in the case of pregnancy, their unborn child. Travelers to some countries may also be at increased risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable illnesses. Foreign students, immigrants, and refugees may be susceptible to these diseases.
A systematic approach to vaccination is necessary to ensure that every adult is appropriately protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. Every visit by an adult to a health-care provider should be an opportunity to review and update immunizations status. Health-care providers and individuals should maintain detailed records about each person's vaccination history.
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