Childhood Immunizations

The Florida Department of Health in Washington County provide childhood immunizations to all children (birth – 18 yrs), regardless of family income level. Immunizations begin at two months of age and could save your child’s life from several diseases.

The following immunizations protect against these and other diseases:

•DTaP   Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria. Diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough)are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds.

•Polio - IPV   Polio is a disease caused by a virus. It enters a child’s (or adult’s) body through the mouth. Sometimes it does not cause serious illness. But sometimes it causes paralysis (can’t move arm or leg). It can kill people who get it, usually by paralyzing the muscles that help them breathe.

•Hepatitis B  Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is a serious disease that affects the liver.  Hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.   

•Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)   Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease is a serious disease caused by bacteria. It usually strikes children under 5 years old. Your child can get Hib disease by being around other children or adults who may have the bacteria and not know it. The germs spread from person to person. If the germs stay in the child’s nose and throat, the child probably will not get sick. But sometimes the germs spread into the lungs or the bloodstream, and then Hib can cause serious problems such as meningitis (a disease that can cause paralysis, deafness, mental retardation and often death).

•Pneumococcal conjugate   Streptococcus pneumoniae is an infection caused by bacteria. Children can become very sick.  It causes blood infections,  pneumonia, and  bacterial meningitis, mostly in young children. (Meningitis is an infection of the covering of the brain.) Pneumococcal meningitis kills about 3 people in 10 who get it. Pneumococcal meningitis can also lead to other health problems, including deafness and brain damage.

•Rotavirus   Rotavirus is a virus that causes severe diarrhea, mostly in babies and young children. It is often accompanied by vomiting and fever.

•MMR   Measles, Mumps, and Rubella are viruses. You or your child could catch these diseases by being around someone who has them. They spread from person to person through the air. They could cause deafness, sterility, blindness and death

•Chickenpox (varicella)   Chickenpox (also called varicella) virus is a common childhood disease. It is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults.

•Hepatitis A   Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis A. It is usually spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water containing HAV.

•Td/Tdap    Children 6 years of age and younger are routinely vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. But older children, adolescents, and adults need protection from these diseases too. Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria) and Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) vaccines provide that protection.

•Meningococcal   Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2 through 18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal disease also causes blood infections.

•Human papillomavirus   Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States. HPV is spread through sexual contact. Most HPV infections don’t cause any symptoms, and go away on their own. But HPV is important mainly because it can cause cervical cancer in women. HPV is also associated with several less common types of cancer in both men and women. It can also cause genital warts and warts in the upper respiratory tract.

Childhood Immunization Schedule

Vaccine Information Statements

Adult Immunizations

We offer many adult immunizations at a the Florida Department of Health in Washington County. Please call for more details and to schedule an appointment.

Adult Immunization Schedule