Immunizations

For their sake.   For your sake.   Vaccinate.

The Scott County Health Department provides childhood and adult immunizations.

Tuesdays are Immunization Days at Scott County Health Department, 8-11 am and 1-3 pm. Please call our office at (573)471-4044 to schedule an appointment.

Vaccines for Children (VFC)

 We provide immunizations through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. To receive immunizations through this program, children must meet one of the following criteria:

• Uninsured or Medicaid Eligible   
• Underinsured: a child who has private health insurance but the coverage does not include vaccines
• American Indian or Alaska Native

Children & 317 Vaccines Policy

Since October 1, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented changes to the vaccine Section 317 policy, which states that 317 vaccines may not be used for routine vaccination of any fully insured individual. Fully insured children are to be vaccinated through their insurance coverage. The Scott County Public Health Center has been proactive in assuring that childhood immunizations continue to be available and is currently working with a company to allow the billing of private health insurances.

Insured children may seek vaccinations from their medical provider. We do not directly bill insurance companies or file insurance claims.

Children Vaccine Exemptions

Immunizations are the best protection against serious diseases. Vaccines are safe and effective and were developed to protect individuals from dangerous and sometimes deadly diseases. If you are considering either of the two exemptions described below, please consider the following:

• Choosing not to immunize a child greatly increases the risk of getting serious diseases like pertussis, measles, mumps and chickenpox that can cause severe complications such as heart failure; difficulty breathing and swallowing; brain damage; and deafness.
• Children who are not immunized can transmit vaccine-preventable diseases throughout the community to babies who are too young to be fully immunized or to others who cannot be immunized for medical reasons. Exposure to any vaccine-preventable disease could be fatal.
• To protect inadequately vaccinated individuals and the entire community, unimmunized children could be excluded from child care during disease outbreaks. Exclusion from care can cause a hardship for the child and parent, however no exceptions are made, regardless of the circumstances.
• It is unlawful for any child to attend child care unless the child has been immunized or unless the parent or guardian has signed and filed a Parent/Guardian or Religious Immunization Exemption.

Parent/Guardian Exemption

An exemption can be filed for selected vaccines or for all vaccines. Parents and guardians should indicate which required vaccines are being exempted from on the Parent/Guardian Immunization Exemption form. The exemption must be completed and filed with the child care center administrator annually.

Claiming this exemption represents a parent or guardian’s objection to immunizing against vaccine preventable diseases. Actively choosing not to immunize a child by claiming an exemption is a parent’s right; however, it carries significant responsibility. Immunizations may save your child's life and has an impact on the safety of others.

Religious Exemption

A religious exemption can be filed for selected required vaccines or for all required vaccines. Parents and guardians should indicate which required vaccines are being exempted from on the Religious Immunization Exemption form. The exemption must be completed, signed by the parent or guardian and placed on file with the school immunization health record.

Claiming this exemption represents a parent or guardian’s belief that the family’s religious preference does not support immunizing against vaccine preventable diseases. Actively choosing not to immunize a child by claiming a religious exemption is a parent’s right; however, it carries significant responsibility. Immunizations may save your child's life and has an impact on the safety of others.

***Please Note: Our office no longer issues Vaccine Exemptions. For information on how to obtain an exemption, contact the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at 1-(800) 219-3224 or refer to the information below.