Immunization Information

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Parents Informed and Educated
To get detailed and complete information about immunizations, why we need them, the diseases they protect you against, how they are studied to ensure they are safe, please read the following book.
Click to read
Top 4 Things Parents Need to Know about Measles!
Measles is very contagious and can be serious. Protect your child by vaccinating.
Click to learn more

For a Quick Overview of Childhood Immunizations, Learn More with our Pamphlets Below:

Getting Vaccinated on Time is Important!

As a parent you will have to make many decisions about your child, making the decision to vaccinate on time is an easy decision.

The vaccination schedules are designed to best protect your child at their most vulnerable ages. Young children are more likely to get serious complications if they catch preventable diseases.
Delaying vaccination may cause your child to miss important activities. Children who are not up to date with vaccination requirements cannot attend school in New York. Children may also be excluded from other activities during disease outbreaks.
Vaccines are not "safer" for older kids. Vaccine dosing and schedules are designed with all age groups in mind. No age group is more resilient to potential side effects.

The schedule below highlights vaccines your child should receive at different ages. For a complete schedule for all childhood ages please visit the CDC website or speak with your trusted physician.

Immunize Against:	Birth	2 Months	4 Months	6 Months	12 Months	15 Months	18-23 Months	4-6 Years
*Hepatitis B*	✓	✓ 1-2 mo.		✓ 6-18 mo.
*DTaP* Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis		✓	✓	✓		✓ 15-18 mo.		✓
IPV Polio		✓	✓	✓ 6-18 mo.				✓
MMR Measles, Mumps, Rubella					✓ 12-15 mo.			✓
HiB Haemophilus influenzae type b		✓	✓	✓	✓ 12-15 mo.
Varicella Chickenpox					✓ 12-15 mo.			✓
PCV³Pneumococcal Disease		✓	✓	✓	✓ 12-15 mo.

Even if the child's mother is fully vaccinated, children still need to have their own vaccinations on time.

Babies can receive some immunity from their mothers in the form of passive immunity. However, this immunity is not long lasting and can fade within months depending on the disease.
Vaccines provide long lasting active immunity. The vaccine schedule is designed to help babies establish their active immunity before their passive immunity fades away.

Getting Vaccinated on Time Helps Keep Everyone Healthy!

Vaccines help to keep disease rates low. We see lower infection rates now than in previous times due to high vaccination rates creating herd immunity.
Herd immunity is important in helping to keep the community healthy. People who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons such as cancer patients or transplant recipients rely on herd immunity to help reduce their risk of catching diseases.
Herd immunity loses its effectiveness when the vaccination rate goes down. When people wait to get vaccinated, the community risk to disease outbreaks increases.

Vaccine Safety

Vaccines have a long-established history of safety. Only your doctor can decide if you have a medical reason to be exempt from a vaccine.

Vaccines go through years of testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they are available to the public.
Every batch of vaccines is tested for quality and safety to ensure each vaccine is effective and safe.
Vaccines are not associated with conditions like autism, diabetes, or fertility conditions.
Getting multiple vaccines at the same visit is proven to be safe. Several combination vaccines are available to help reduce the overall number of shots given.

For more information about vaccine safety please visit VaccinateYourFamily.org for detailed answers to frequently asked questions.

Prepare For a Healthy School Year!

Every child who attends school in New York must get all the required vaccinations for their grade, unless they have a valid medical exemption.

Within the first 14 days parents must: show proof of their child's up to date vaccinations OR provide a valid medical exemption.
As of 2019, religious exemptions are no longer valid in NYS.
To remain in school, unvaccinated, or overdue children must receive at least the first dose of all required vaccines within the first 14 days. They must also receive subsequent vaccines in the series within a 14 day period of when they are due to complete the immunization series.

Vaccines for Adults

Vaccines are for every age! While most people think of children getting vaccinated, it's important that everyone stays up to date with their vaccinations so they can stay healthy.

Talk to your doctor or see the CDC Recommended Schedule to find out what vaccines you may need.
Traveling internationally? Find out the recommended vaccinations from the CDC for your destination to have a safe trip. *Please note the RCDOH no longer offers a travel vaccine clinic.*

Our Clinics

Rockland County is proud to offer immunization clinics to resident of all ages through our clinics. Our clinics help to provide necessary vaccines to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured at no cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Vaccines for Adults (VFA) programs. For more information on eligibility, please call us at (845) 364-2520/2524.

Rockland County Department of Health Clinic - Pomona
Robert L. Yeager Health Center, Building A, 2nd floor Rotunda area
50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY 10970.
Mondays, Tuesdays (alternating) and Wednesdays from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM by appointment only.

Rockland County Department of Health Clinic - Spring Valley
14 S. Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977.
Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM by appointment only.

Information for School Administrators

Keeping our students healthy requires a close partnership with our schools. Please see the attached resources to have a healthy school year!

Information for Health Care Providers

Our providers work hard to help keep Rockland healthy with us. Please see the attached resources below for your reference.

New York State's Immunization Registry Law requires health care providers to report all immunizations administered to persons less than 19 years of age, along with the person's immunization histories, to the New York State Department of Health using the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS).
Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger, US, 2023
Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older, United States, 2023
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger — United States, 2023
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2023
New York State Information for Providers

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