Vaccines to reach both sides of border

To kick off Binational Border Health Week, several organizations in Yuma County are teaming up to sponsor a vaccination campaign to help make sure children on both sides of the border get caught up on their shots.

The Regional Center for Border Health, Inc., the Binational Health and Environmental Council, with representatives from San Luis Rio Colorado, Son. and Yuma County, will host an immunization campaign at 9:30 a.m. today at the San Luis, Ariz., Walk-In Clinic, located at 1896 E. Babbit Lane. The immunizations are free for those aged newborn to 18. The immunization event will run until noon.

Officials encourage parents to remember to bring their child's immunization card.

In addition to the immunizations the clinic will offer glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure testing as well as promotional information.

But the immunization campaign is not the only event, as the week kicks off at 8 a.m. this morning with an Inauguration Ceremony at Friendship Park in San Luis, Ariz. This year marks the ninth annual Binational Border Health Week.

Public officials and representatives with the various organizations will also be on hand for the kick-off celebration.

The week is filled with other events such as a health walk, diabetes and nutrition classes, workshops on self-esteem, a trash clean up, training and forum on domestic violence and the judicial system and more.

Other partners include the U.S. - Mexico Border Health Association, Families in Action for Health, and the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission.

For more information on the immunization campaign, call the Regional Center for Border Health at (928) 627-9222.

For more information about all of the events throughout the week, visit http://www.borderhealth.org/border_binational_health_week.php.

VACCINES OFFERED:
• DTaP, which protects against diptheria, tetanus and whooping cough
• DTP, which protects against diptheria, tetanus and pertussis
• DT, which protects against tetanus and diptheria for adults
• TD, which protects against tetanus and diptheria
• MMR, which protects against measels, mumps and rubella
• Hib, which protects against meningitis and pneumonia
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Chickenpox
• Rotavirus
• Pneumococcal Polysaccharide

Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.