Parents, see letter below from the Town of Burrillville, Emergency Management Agency

105 Harrisville Main Street, Harrisville, Rhode Island 02830

ema [at] burrillville [dot] org 401-641-0898

February 9, 2012

Greetings:

This is a reminder to all Rhode Island residents to make sure you and your family are up-to-date on your shots. You are encouraged to contact your doctor (and your children’s doctors) to make sure you and your family are current with all vaccinations. A vaccination clinic will run on February, 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Burrillville High School, 425 East Avenue, Harrisville (Administration entrance). Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine will be available for anyone 11 years of age and older and flu vaccine will be available for anyone six months of age and older. This clinic is being run by the Town of Burrillville in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Health. It is a routine exercise that helps the emergency responders and public safety officials in our town prepare, should a real health emergency ever occur. But it is also a chance for you and the members of your family to get these two very important vaccinations.

Tdap protects against pertussis. Although there currently is no pertussis outbreak in Rhode Island, pertussis is a contagious disease that can cause illness and rarely death, especially in infants.

Flu vaccine will help you avoid the flu this year. Everyone older than six months of age needs a flu shot every year, even healthy people. It is especially important to make sure you are vaccinated now. The flu hits Rhode Island hardest in January and February every year.

Anyone who is insured should bring his or her insurance card. However, health insurance is not a requirement for vaccination. No one will be turned away for a lack of health insurance. Pregnant women must be at least 20 weeks into their pregnancies to receive Tdap vaccine.

If you have any questions about Tdap vaccine or flu vaccine, contact the Rhode Island Department of Health at (401) 222-5960 / RI Relay 711. If you have questions about the clinic, contact Jason Rhodes, Burrillville EMA Director at 641-0898 or ema [at] burrillville [dot] org.