In April, the Southern Nevada Health District will observe the American Public Health Association’s (APHA)  12th National Public Health Week (April 2-8),  and National Infant Immunization Week (April 21-28).   Both special weeks focus on public health concerns in our community as well as the nation.  For information about National Public Health Week, National Infant Immunization Week or immunization clinics, contact the Southern Nevada Health District, (702) 759-1000 or visit www.SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict.org.  
National Public Health Week

This year, the theme for National Public Health Week is  “Take the first step!  Preparedness and public health threats: addressing the unique needs of the nation’s vulnerable populations.”   The Southern Nevada Health District continues to encourage  Southern Nevadans to prepare effectively for public health threats – from bioterrorism and natural disasters to disease outbreaks.  Since its formation, the health district’s Office of Public Health Preparedness has worked to develop comprehensive planning for such emergencies and educates the community’s large and small business owners, the local school district, and families about the “nuts and bolts” of preparedness.  The Southern Nevada Health District responsibilities also include the more than 30 million annual visitors to the area.

APHA identified five groups that it considers to be among the country’s vulnerable populations and will focus its efforts each day on one of those groups:

Just 31 percent of Americans had an emergency plan in place, according to a September 2006 poll conducted by Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.  Just 16 percent of mothers who had children in the household had considered where they would go if they had to leave their homes and fewer than half in a recent poll had a food supply to last more than three days.  APHA conducted interviews with food banks and found that regional food distribution centers are prepared for an emergency however local food banks and community pantries are less prepared.  The association found that just 15 percent of hourly wage workers have set aside enough cash to sustain them and their families in an emergency and only 22 percent have stocked sufficient amounts of water.  A national survey of 409 adults with chronic illnesses conducted by Peter Hart Research Associates found that just 19 percent of adults who take medications more than once per week have a one month supply of their prescriptions on hand and that 61 percent of people with disabilities have not made plans to quickly and safely evacuate their homes.

National Infant Immunization Week

In Clark County, the immunization rate for children two months old to 36 months old is just 59 percent.  This rate places the community among the worst major urban areas in the country for childhood vaccinations according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey released last year.  National Infant Immunization Week seeks to educate parents, physicians and health care providers about the need to discuss immunization records at every visit.   Health officials cite many reasons for the low rate including the lack of a statewide immunization registry, patients with no “home base” for medical care and missed opportunities at the pediatrician’s office to update a child’s immunizations.

Immunizations are the least expensive way to prevent illnesses among children and Southern Nevada rates on par with the rest of the United States on vaccination rates for school-age children.   The Southern Nevada Health District and its partners want to reach the nearly 11,000 children in the community who are not involved in a day-care setting or attend school.

The Southern Nevada Health District will hold a special Saturday immunization clinic at each of its four public health centers between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday, April 28.  An administrative fee of $16 per child for one vaccine and $20 per child for two or more will be assessed.  The health district’s public health centers are located at:

• Ravenholt Public Health Center: 625 Shadow Lane, Las Vegas

• East Las Vegas Public Health Center: 560 Nellis Blvd., Ste. E-12, Las Vegas

• North Las Vegas Public Health Center: 1820 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Ste. F, North Las Vegas

• Henderson Public Health Center, 520 E. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson

Immunizations are available Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the health district’s public health centers.  For more information, contact the Southern Nevada Health District’s immunization project, (702) 759-0850.

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