
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 27, 1994                   TAG: 9404270083
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION WEEK

Parents who have not immunized their infants and children may do so for free today at the Roanoke Health Department between 8:30 and 10:30a.m.

Under Virginia law, children may not enter school unless they have been immunized. The Health Department provides shots that prevent measles, mumps, German measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, HEB influenza and hepatitis B.

While more than 97 percent of Virginia's children get their shots by the time they reach school age, fewer than 60 percent are immunized before their 2nd birthdays. The Virginia Department of Health hopes to immunize 90 percent of the state's infants by 1996.

Why?

"Measles kills," said Sandra Fleeman, immunization coordinator for the city's Health Department. "Tetanus, you can die from it."

Fleeman said the Health Department usually draws about 30 people to its regularly scheduled immunization clinics, which are held every Wednesday from 8:30 to 10:30a.m. and Thursdays from 3 to 6p.m.

She hopes to draw a larger crowd today with the help of McDonald's, which will provide toys and refreshments for children who come to the clinic.

by CNB