Health department urges immunization with “Never Miss a Shot” campaign

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department has kicked off their “Never Miss a Shot” campaign.

We spoke to the health department’s public information officer who says that it’s time to protect you and your child.

Ginger Rowsey, the health department’s PIO, said that she’s hopeful that this will bring awareness to adults.

“‘Never Miss a Shot’ is a basketball themed campaign with a goal of encouraging Madison County residents to stay up to date with all immunizations across the life-span. So we’re kicking it off by giving away these mini-basketballs to all school-aged kids who come and get their immunizations here at our clinic,” said Rowsey.

The giveaway will continue while supplies last.

“The most recent Tennessee immunization compliance assessment shows that only 92% of kindergartners here in Madison County were fully immunized,” said Rowsey.

Rowsey said that we need to be at 95% or higher to keep diseases such as measles, chicken pox and whooping cough out of our schools and communities.

“People all over the world and even here in the united states, still get very seriously ill from these diseases that vaccines can help prevent. So we hope this campaign will help bring awareness to this issue and that we have a really effective way to prevent those,” said Rowsey.

She also said that just because the mini-basketballs are for school-aged children, that doesn’t disqualify parents from getting shots if they need them.

“Many adults are not up to date on their recommended immunizations and mainly because they’re not aware of what they do need. But as we age, we’re susceptible to different diseases,” said Rowsey.

The health department is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 804 North Parkway in Jackson.

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