National Vaccination Awareness Month: The Importance of Staying Immunized

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August marks National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to emphasize the significance of vaccinations in preventing diseases and ensuring public health. It’s a reminder that immunity, like many things in life, isn’t permanent. Over time, its protective shield can wane, making us susceptible to diseases we once thought safe.

Our commitment to the community’s health is unwavering at Immunize El Paso. As Daniel Acosta, the Director of Immunize El Paso, aptly puts it, “We have in stock all the vaccines a person will need from when they are infants to the elderly. In July and the first two weeks of August, we witnessed a commendable surge in the vaccination of children. Fortunately, this year has marked an uptick in overall vaccination rates.”

Why Vaccinate?

  • Protection from Deadly Diseases: Vaccines are our frontline defense against menacing viruses that cause diseases like measles, meningitis, hepatitis, flu, and polio.
  • Mitigating Infection Severity: Even if you contract a disease post-vaccination, the severity is often reduced, ensuring fewer complications and a quicker recovery.
  • Achieving Herd Immunity: When a significant chunk of the population gets vaccinated, it paves the way for herd immunity. This phenomenon makes it challenging for the virus to spread, safeguarding even those who haven’t been vaccinated.

Don’t Wait, Vaccinate! By getting vaccinated, you’re not just protecting yourself but also your loved ones. Moreover, you’re playing a pivotal role in shielding those who, due to medical reasons, can’t get vaccinated. This includes individuals with certain medical conditions or those with compromised immune systems.

Visit Us at Immunize El Paso We operate out of three clinics and accept various payment methods, including medical insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. To get vaccinated, you can schedule an appointment at Appointments – Immunize El Paso or simply walk in. Remember to bring your immunization record; we’ll evaluate it and suggest any vaccines you might need based on your age.

Questions? Vaccines can be a topic riddled with myths and misinformation. If you have any queries about how vaccines function or their impact on the body, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (915) 533-3414. Your health and well-being are our topmost priority.

Stay safe, stay vaccinated!

Immunize El Paso’s July Back-to-School Vaccination Campaign: A Resounding Success!

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July’s Back-to-School Vaccination campaign was a huge success! Our Immunize El Paso Director hit the tv and radio airwaves to encourage parents to bring their children to our clinics for their school shots before school starts.

“Getting children in for their vaccinations is a major priority for us and it should be for parents too. Each school year we see hundreds of children for their school vaccines. Parents who are come in July are avoiding that back-to-school vaccination rush,” said Director Daniel Acosta.

School immunizations refer to the vaccines that are recommended or required for students before they return to school. These vaccinations help protect students and the wider community from various vaccine-preventable diseases.

The specific immunization requirements can vary based on the country, state, or region you’re in, as well as the grade level of the student. Commonly required or recommended vaccines for school-age children might include:

  1. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine: This vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles). These diseases can cause serious complications and are highly contagious.
  2. Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP/Tdap) Vaccine: This vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), and pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis can be especially dangerous for infants and young children.
  3. Polio Vaccine: This vaccine protects against polio, a viral infection that can cause paralysis.
  4. Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine: This vaccine protects against chickenpox, a highly contagious viral infection.
  5. Hepatitis B Vaccine: This vaccine protects against hepatitis B, a viral infection that can lead to liver disease.
  6. Hepatitis A Vaccine: This vaccine protects against hepatitis A, another viral infection affecting the liver.
  7. Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine: This vaccine helps protect against certain strains of meningococcal bacteria that can cause meningitis and bloodstream infections.
  8. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine: This vaccine helps protect against certain strains of HPV, which can lead to various cancers later in life.
  9. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine: While not always required, the flu vaccine is often recommended annually to protect against seasonal influenza.

Parents and guardians are usually required to provide proof of immunization, which is usually documented in the form of an immunization record or certificate. If your child needs school vaccines, we welcome you to make an appointment: Appointments – Immunize El Paso

vaccinated child giving thumbs up

Protecting Our Future: Immunize El Paso’s 2023-2024 Back-to-School Immunization Campaign

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Immunize El Paso, a leading provider of immunization services in the El Paso region, has announced the launch of its 2023-2024 Back-to-School Immunization Campaign. This initiative is designed to ensure that all students are up-to-date on their vaccinations before the start of the new school year, a critical step in protecting the health of our community.

The start of a new school year is a busy time for families. Between shopping for school supplies and preparing for a new routine, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important tasks – ensuring your child is fully protected against preventable diseases. That’s where Immunize El Paso steps in. Their annual Back-to-School Immunization Campaign is designed to make it easier for parents to get their children vaccinations.

Immunize El Paso will host a series of vaccination clinics throughout El Paso as part of this campaign. These clinics will be held at various locations, including schools and health fairs, and at different times to accommodate as many families as possible. The full schedule of these clinics can be found on the Immunize El Paso website.

Immunize El Paso encourages all parents to take advantage of these clinics. Vaccinations are a simple and effective way to protect your children from various diseases. By ensuring your child is fully immunized, you’re not only protecting their health, but also the health of their classmates and the wider community.

So, as you prepare for the new school year, make sure to add “get vaccinations” to your to-do list. Together, we can create a healthier El Paso.

For more information about the Back-to-School Immunization Campaign or to schedule an appointment, visit www.immunizeelpaso.org. Let’s make the 2023-2024 school year a healthy one!

Immunize El Paso Responds to Arrival of XBB.1.5

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El Paso is facing a new COVID-19 challenge, Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5. One of the aspects of this new variant is that it breaks through antibodies people may have from prior Covid-19 infections, making those antibodies useless.

Early research has shown that the bivalent booster is effective against XBB.1.5. At Immunize El Paso, we are stocked with bivalent boosters and prepared to immunize anyone who comes through our doors.

“Because everything is back to normal, people working, not wearing masks, stores and restaurants open etc. it’s easy to forget that we are still in a pandemic. But the fact is that Covid-19, regardless of what variant it is, is still very dangerous. Coronavirus is still causing hospitalizations and deaths throughout the country. Covid-19 should be taken very seriously.”

Immunize El Paso Director, Daniel Acosta

Covid-19 variants will continue to mutate and researchers are keeping an eye out for the next variant hoping the next one isn’t as bad as the one before.

For more information on the bivalent booster call (915) 533-3414, or for an appointment, visit immunizeelpaso.org

Immunize El Paso Begins Bivalent Vaccination for Children

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Immunize El Paso has received bivalent booster vaccines from Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna. So far, Immunize El Paso has administered 3,874 bivalent vaccines. With experts warning of a COVID-19 winter spike, the bivalent booster will play a key role in the severity of a COVID infection, hospitalizations, and death rates.

“It is understandable that people may not believe they need another vaccine, but this is the most important vaccine yet. There are two strains of the Omicron virus BA.4 and BA.5, which are infecting people today. The new COVID-19 vaccine bivalent is the only vaccine to protect against those strains of the virus.”

-Danny Acosta, Director of Immunize El Paso

While many people have some form of protection from past vaccines and COVID infections, national studies show the new booster could still save thousands of lives. Immunize El Paso has pop-up clinics throughout the borderland to help facilitate the administration of the COVID-19 bivalente booster, along with flu and neumonía vaccines. For locations and times visit:

2022 Flu Clinic Outreach Locations – Immunize El Paso

Make a Difference: Your Donation Can Immunize El Paso’s Underserved

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DONATE NOW!

At Immunize El Paso, we believe that access to crucial vaccinations should be a right, not a privilege. Every day, we encounter individuals from underserved communities who are vulnerable not just because of where they live or their economic status, but because they lack access to life-saving vaccines.

Why Your Donation Matters

  1. Vaccines Save Lives: It’s a simple fact. Vaccines have eradicated diseases that once decimated populations and continue to prevent thousands of deaths annually. Your contribution ensures someone gets the shot they need to stay protected.
  2. Support Community Health: When one person gets vaccinated, it’s not just them who benefits. Vaccines create a ripple effect. The more people that are vaccinated, the harder it is for a disease to spread, safeguarding the entire community.
  3. Economic Impact: Diseases come with a cost – hospital bills, missed workdays, and sometimes lifelong complications. By supporting vaccinations, you’re aiding the overall economic health of El Paso, saving families and the community from unforeseen expenses.
  4. A Chance for a Healthy Future: For many in our underserved populations, a vaccine is a beacon of hope. It represents the chance for a future free from the threats of preventable diseases, ensuring that children can grow up healthy and adults can live without fear.

How Your Donation is Used

Every cent you donate goes directly to purchasing and administering vaccines to those who most need them. We also invest in outreach programs, ensuring that every corner of El Paso knows the importance of immunization and has the opportunity to benefit.

Join Us in Our Mission

If you’ve ever wondered how you can make a tangible difference in the lives of others, this is your chance. Whether it’s a one-time donation or a monthly contribution, your support will bridge the gap, providing crucial vaccines to those who otherwise might go without.

Together, we can ensure that every member of our community, regardless of their economic or social standing, is protected. Donate today, and be a part of a healthier, stronger El Paso.

DONATE NOW!

Immunize El Paso Launches Flu Outreach Clinics

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Immunize El Paso is launching 140 pop-up clinics at borderland schools and community centers. Outreach locations will span all parts of El Paso with varying hours to make vaccination opportunities close and convenient. The new COVID-19 booster and pneumonia vaccines will also be available, along with flu shots.

“We feel our responsibility is to make vaccination as easy as possible for people to get protected. We welcome everyone to come to our outreach clinics running now through the end of October.

-Daniel Acosta, Immunize El Paso

According to the CDC, the best time to vaccinate against the flu are the months of September and November. It’s important to remember that Influenza is a deadly virus, especially for those with underlying health conditions. Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs.

The list of outreach clinic locations, dates, and times is attached. For more information, visit immunizeelpaso.org/flu or call 915-533-3414.

Immunize El Paso Receives COVID-19 Bivalent Booster

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Immunize El Paso received 1,800 Covid-19 Bivalent Boosters on September 9th. IZEP administered the first vaccination this morning.

“We expect a demand in El Paso for the Bivalent Booster. We have ordered 4-thousand more Bivalent Boosters to meet demand.”
Daniel Acosta, Immunize El Paso

This is the first Covid-19 vaccine to be created specifically for strains of Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5. This vaccine was created in the more traditional form, like hepatitis where there is a live agent in the vaccine.

On August 31, 2022, the FDA amended emergency use authorizations of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to authorize updated, bivalent formulations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed the use of the Bivalent vaccine.

Immunize El Paso Now has Covid-19 Vaccine Novavax

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A total of 300 Novavax Covid-19 vaccines were received at Immunize El Paso clinics.

Novavax is a Covid-19 vaccine, not a booster. It’s different from the other three available Covid-19 vaccines from makers Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson.

Novavax is produced more like traditional vaccines, like Hepatitis B or HPV vaccines.

The FDA has authorized Novavax for ages 12–17.

Register now by clicking here.

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General Information

Manufacturer: Novavax, Inc.

Number of Shots: 2 doses in the primary series, given 3–8 weeks apart.

People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should also receive 2 doses, given 3 weeks apart (a 3rd primary dose is not currently authorized).

Booster Shot:  Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is not authorized for use as a booster dose.

Type of Vaccine: Protein subunit

How Given: Shot in the muscle of the upper arm

Does NOT Contain: Eggs, preservatives, latex, metals
See full list of ingredients

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Safety Data Summary

  • COVID-19 vaccines have undergone—and continue to undergo—the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Side effects that happen within 7 days of getting vaccinated are common but are mostly mild and only last a few days. Some people have reactions that affect their ability to do daily activities.
  • Side effects throughout the body (such as fever, chills, tiredness, and headache) are more common after the second dose of the vaccine.
  • Severe allergic reactions to vaccines are rare but can happen. Cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported in people who received Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.

Learn more about vaccine safety monitoring after a vaccine is authorized or approved for use.

Thousands More COVID-19 Immunizations Administered

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In July, Immunize El Paso administered 4,122 Covid Immunizations compared to June (2,240) and May (1,512). The reasoning for the growth in COVID-19 vaccinations can be explained by several factors.

One aspect of the jump in immunizations was children getting their school vaccines and parents opting to include the COVID-19 vaccine as well. El Paso also saw a jump in Covid cases and an increase in the CDC’s level of community spread, plus; immunize El Paso ran the “Long Covid” campaign to encourage Covid vaccination and boosters among people 50 years plus.

“We are encouraged to see this significant increase in the administration of Covid immunizations in El Paso. That means more people are protected against Covid or more people experienced much less severe symptoms during a Covid infection.”

-Immunize El Paso Director Daniel Acosta

Immunize El Paso has administered 117,071 Covid immunizations since 2022. Immunize El Paso is a non-profit organization focused on vaccinating adults and children alike with low-cost vaccines. You can schedule your COVID-19 vaccine by clicking here.