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The DDC Immunization Program is committed to preventing vaccine-preventable disease among infants, children, adolescents, and adults in Philadelphia.
For general information about immunizations, please call (215) 685-6748.
What Immunizations Does a Child Need?
Children in the United States should routinely receive vaccinations against eleven diseases: diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus Influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, hepatitis B, and streptococcus pneumoniae.
DDC recognizes that immunization is truly a lifelong process -- beginning with hepatitis B vaccine at birth and continuing through pneumococcal and influenza vaccination in older adulthood -- and as such has pursued the following initiatives:
Vaccines For Children (VFC) Program
The DDC Immunization Program provides government-purchased vaccine to the more than 400 pediatric medical providers in Philadelphia to administer to children 18 years and younger whose families have no medical insurance for vaccinations or who have insurance through the 4 HealthChoices Medicaid HMOs. Since providers can not charge families of eligible children for these vaccines, cost should not be an issue in assuring that all children 18 years of age and younger in the city are fully vaccinated.
For more information about the VFC program, call (215) 685-6728.
Kids Immunization Database/Tracking System (KIDS)
Children in school are well immunized because almost all children attend school and are required to be fully vaccinated to enter. However, most childhood vaccinations are due in the first two years of a child's life, when the diseases cause the most severe illnesses. To ensure that all parents and medical providers of preschoolers have access to their children's immunization record, the Immunization Program has developed an immunization database to record the vaccinations of all children living in Philadelphia from birth through school entry. Regardless of how many different doctors or clinics a child has visited for shots, the KIDS Registry is able to provide a single record of each child's vaccinations, and tell parents and providers what immunizations are due.
For more information on KIDS, please call (215) 685-6829.
Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program (PHBPP)
Approximately 1 in 100 of the 23,000 babies born to Philadelphia mothers each year (or 230 babies) are exposed to the hepatitis B virus during birth. These babies need special vaccinations and close nursing follow-up to prevent their developing lifelong hepatitis B infection and serious liver disease. The PHBPP has the expert nursing staff to provide these important services to these babies.
For more information on the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program, please call (215) 685-6497.
Childcare & School Consultation
215-685-6835
Health Care Provider Consultation
(215) 685-6854
Adolescent Immunization Initiative
(215) 685-6466
Adult Immunization Initiative
(215) 685-6466 |
