November is ideal for vaccinations for kids
By Charles Christian
Officials at the St. Joseph Health Department are reminding parents that November is an ideal time for kids to get flu, COVID and RSV vaccines.
December through February is normally considered a peak season for these respiratory illnesses, making November a good time for vaccinations to give the body time to adjust and build up resistance, Jennifer Buch, a registered nurse and clinical supervisor at the St. Joseph Health Department said
“So, if you receive the vaccine in November, you are basically preparing your body to build up that immunity when it’s at its highest peak,” she said
Those seeking the RSV vaccine must meet certain qualifications due to a limited supply. The health department offers it for children from 8 to 19 months old because contracting RSV in that age range can cause serious long-term harm or even death.
For flu and COVID, the American Pediatrics Academy recommends annual vaccination for kids, and both shots can be received at the same time without any harm.
“A virus tends to mutate year after year,” Buch said. “And your immunity decreases after a certain period of time. Children who have co-morbidities like asthma must get vaccinated to prevent a worse form of the virus or pneumonia.”
Buch said that parents seeking flu, COVID or RSV vaccines for their kids should request them specifically when referred to the health clinic. Clinic officials said that out of 169 total vaccinations for October, only 28 were flu vaccinations, which is a decrease from last year.
“Because flu and COVID vaccines aren’t required by the school, we don’t give those vaccines in a normal vaccine referral,” Buch said. “So parents should specifically ask for them when or if they are referred to us for other vaccination requirements, and we can accommodate them at that time.”
To find out more about these vaccinations or to schedule a vaccination time for children, call the St. Joseph Health Department at 816 271-4636 or contact your doctor’s office. The St. Joseph Health Department is located at the Stuber Health Center at 904 S. 10th St., Suite A.
