As Suffolk County eases into phase four of reopening following New York State’s COVID-19 Pause, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is urging parents to make sure their children are up-to-date on their immunizations. Vaccines provide children with immunity before they are exposed to any one of 16 potentially serious, even life-threatening diseases.
“It is understandable that as our region has been on pause for several months, many children may have missed their well visits and, therefore, routine vaccinations,” said County Executive Bellone. “Now that we are reopening, we urge those parents and guardians who have insurance to make an appointment with their healthcare provider to immunize their children as soon as possible. For those residents who are uninsured or have lost their insurance, we will provide those needed immunizations.”
“Most vaccine-preventable pathogens, like measles, cancers caused by HPV, and whooping cough, still circulate at low levels, so if children are not immunized there is a risk that we could experience an increase in outbreaks of these vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Services.
The Suffolk County Child Health immunization clinic is offered Wednesday, July 15, July 22, and July 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Pronto Long Island located at 128 Pine Aire Drive in Bay Shore.
Suffolk County residents who wish to participate are asked to call 631-854-0222 in advance. Pronto charges a $5 fee per child. Masks are required for every person over the age of two years. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can prove their guardianship. Participants must wait in the car upon arrival.
For more information about the Childhood Immunization Program, visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov/departments/healthservices.aspx.