Immunizations

The Atoka County Health Department administers a variety of immunizations to infants, children, and adults to protect them against certain disease-causing bacteria and viruses that result in doctor’s visits, hospitalizations, and even death.

Vaccines are among our safest and most reliable medicines. Every year, they prevent countless serious illnesses and thousands of deaths from measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), mumps, rubella (German measles), pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza B, hepatitis A, and varicella (chicken pox).  About 100 million doses are given annually in the United States, most of them to infants and children as part of their routine immunizations.With some immunizations, a single dose gives nearly complete protection. With others, a series of doses spread over months, or years, is needed for the best result.

Vaccines, like many other medicines, can cause side effects. These are usually mild and brief.  Very rarely are they serious.  It is important for anyone getting a vaccine, or for the parents of children receiving a vaccine, to know what the vaccine is, what its benefits are, and what risks, if any, it has.  You will receive an information sheet provided by the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) identifying the risks associated with the vaccine and steps in the event of a severe reaction to the vaccine.  If you have any questions regarding the vaccine, please feel free to ask the nurse providing the vaccine.   

Clients should bring their most current immunization record (if available) and children should have a parent/legal guardian present for immunization consent.

Costs

Most immunizations are available at no cost. Please contact the health department for more information.