Immunizations

Nature Coast Community Health Center/Hernando County Health Department

IMMUNIZATIONS

Vaccines to prevent serious and/or deadly diseases are one of the greatest successes of the 20th century. Vaccine-preventable diseases are at their lowest levels ever. In the United States in 1997, there were only four cases of diphtheria, 138 cases of measles, 50 cases of tetanus, 181 cases of rubella and no wild polio reported. These low numbers are directly related in immunization levels.

ATTENTION MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

Florida's H1N1 Medical Response Forum

The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to forward this information from the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Communications.

Please see the “Call to Register”(PDF - 124KB) flyer for Florida’s upcoming H1N1 Forum for healthcare professionals, sponsored by the Florida Department of Health on March 22, 2010, from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. EST.

Join our moderated panel of experts, including State Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros, Dr. Russell Eggert and Dr. Richard Hopkins from the Florida Department of Health; Dr. Robert Brooks, University of South Florida, Linda Champion, Florida Department of Education, and Cory Meyers, RN, Baptist Health Jacksonville as they discuss the 2009-2010 H1N1 Medical Response. The panel will share their initial expectations, what actually occurred during the event, and the lessons learned for future pandemic planning. The discussion will be followed by an audience question and answer period.

This 60-minute simulcast (available via web and satellite broadcast) is intended for physicians, nurses, laboratory staff, veterinarians, pharmacists, school healthcare professionals and other healthcare professionals.

Hernando County
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine Distribution Information
NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL

For information on Health Department clinics call 352-540-6855.

Many local health care providers including physicians, pharmacies and walk-in clinics have the H1N1 vaccine.
Vaccine administration at one of these facilities will cost between $10.00 - $22.00.

Hernando County residents can take an active role in preventing the spread of H1N1 by:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

For more information on swine flu:

Visit My Flu Safety
Call 1-877-352-3581

Childhood Immunizations

All high-risk infants 6 months old are tracked to ensure that they have begun their immunization series. Children are again tracked at age 2 to see if they are up-to-date or if they lack any immunizations.

Children begin receiving vaccines at about age 2 months. By the time they are 2 years old they should have received 15 shots protecting them against a variety of diseases, including:

polio
diphtheria
pertussis ( whooping cough)
tetanus
measles
mumps
rubella
Hepatitis B
Varicella ( chicken pox)
haemophilus (HIB)
pneumococcal infection

The timing and spacing of vaccines is important and, if given correctly, increases their effectiveness. Children begin receiving vaccines at about age 2 months. By the time they are 2 years old they should have received 15 shots protecting them against a variety of diseases. The vaccine for pneumococcal conjugate became a requirement for daycare this year in the State of Florida.

Vaccines are provided for children and adults; no appointment is necessary. Most children are covered under the federal program of vaccines for children, thereby not costing parents an out-of-pocket charge.

Immunization Record Requests

To request a copy of your child's Hernando County Health Department's immunization history record, the complete name, date of birth and social security number will be required. Parents with proper identification can pick up a copy of the immunization history record from any County Health Department Office in the state of Florida. All County Health Departments are part of the state immunization registry FLSHOTS. For out-of-state requests for Hernando County Health Department's immunization records or additional information please call (352) 540-6800 x82052.

Adult Immunizations

Adult immunizations are available and include tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox) hepatitis A and B, pneumonia vaccine, and flu shots when in season. Prices for adult immunizations vary, please call (352) 540-6800 x82052 for more information.

The Shingles (Zoster) vaccine is available for those 60 years of age and older, by appointment ONLY at our Spring Hill office, call (352) 540-6800 x82022. We currently do not bill insurances for this vaccine.

Travel Immunizations

Vaccinations Required For Travel

Immunization Office Schedule

The Hernando County Health Department offers childhood and adult immunizations at both the Spring Hill and the Brooksville locations.

Immunizations are available at the Spring Hill clinic, 7465 Forest Oaks Boulevard, from 7:40am - 5:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays ONLY (Office is closed on Friday). Immunizations are offered in the Brooksville clinic, 300 S. Main Street, from 7:40 am - 5:00pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Both offices offer immunizations on Thursdays from 7:40am - 12:00pm.

Although walk-ins are welcome, appointments are encouraged to better serve the community. To make an appointment, call 352-540-6800.

Parents will need to bring all previous immunization records with them in order to determine which vaccines each child requires.

More Information

Other sources of immunization information include the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Immunization in Tallahassee at (850) 245-4342, email to (Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.) immunization@doh.state.fl.us, or on the web at www.ImmunizeFlorida.org , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program at 1-800-CDC-INFO (4636) or send an email to nipinfo@cdc.gov.

Links

top of page

Privacy Statement * Disclaimer
Accessibility Information * Email Advisory