Community Immunity:
What You Can Do
Immunity Needs Community
Protecting our community from serious, vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough requires a community-wide effort.
Vaccinated community members are protected from diseases and they also protect others by not spreading disease. This is especially important for community members who may not be able to be vaccinated, including babies, pregnant women, and those with certain health conditions or those who don't develop protection after vaccination.
Immunizations help keep our community healthy and safe. Here are some steps you can take to help protect yourself and our community:
Parents can:
Share immunization information from reputable sources with other parents, school administrators, and school groups such as the PTA and student clubs.
Know how many students at your child's school are not fully immunized with our searchable map of child care and grade schools.
Discuss immunizations with parents of your child's friends.
Talk to your child's pediatrician about your child's immunization status and the practice's policies on immunizations for patients and staff.
Contact the Contra Costa County Immunization Program (925-313-6740) for additional resources.
Schools can:
Review the immunization records for all of your students.
Review the immunization assessment process, including procedures for conditional admissions, and medical exemptions.
Share immunization data with student families, teachers, and school staff.
Encourage teachers to teach students the importance of vaccines.
Recommend staff and teachers be up-to-date with all doctor recommended immunizations, including annual influenza vaccine.
Prepare for vaccine preventable disease outbreaks at your school that could affect both students and staff.
Healthcare Providers can:
Recommend immunizations on schedule for all of your patients.
Give immunizations on schedule for all of your patients.
Review the immunization level at your patient's school and share information with parents.
Ensure your staff is up-to-date with all recommended vaccines, including annual influenza vaccine.
Mask all patients with fever and rash upon entry.