Kentucky Immunization Program
The Kentucky Immunization Program works to provide services aimed at preventing and reducing the risk and incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases for all Kentuckians.
Services include:
- Providing vaccines to Vaccines for Children-enrolled health care providers at no cost
- Enforcing school and child care immunization regulations
- Providing immunization education and training for health care providers and the general public
- Coordinating surveillance and control efforts for vaccine-preventable diseases
- Promoting vaccine safety
- Developing effective partnerships
- Supporting efforts to increase vaccinations for all Kentuckians
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Immunization Program Information |
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Health Care Professionals
This section contains information aimed at health care providers, public health employees and other health workers. This includes information regarding the Vaccines for Children Program, Immunization Registry updates, vaccine information, educational materials and program news updates.
Schools and Childcare Facilities
This section contains immunization information aimed at schools and childcare facilities. This includes school immunization legislation and regulations, school immunization schedules, cheat sheets to immunization requirements, sample tickler systems and school immunization reporting forms and requirements.
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Immunizations for the Public |
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Me and My Family
This section contains information aimed at the general public regarding immunization recommendations across the lifespan. This includes immunization basics, immunization schedules and recommendations, school entrance requirements and where to obtain immunizations.
Influenza
This section contains information regarding influenza, including who is at risk, where to obtain the flu vaccine and seasonal influenza updates.
International Travel
This section contains information about where to access information regarding immunizations needed for travel to specific countries, as well as a information about where to obtain a yellow fever vaccine in Kentucky.
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Meningococcal Information |
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What is Meningococcal Disease?
Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by bacteria and is a leading cause of meningitis in children 2-18 years old in the U.S. Meningitis is an infection of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal disease also causes blood infections.
About 2,600 people get meningococcal disease each year in the United States. Five to 10 percent of these people die, in spite of treatment with antibiotics. Of those who live, another 11 to 19 percent lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become mentally retarded or suffer seizures or strokes.
Anyone can get meningococcal disease. However, it is most common in infants younger than 1 and people with certain medical conditions, such as lack of a spleen. College freshman in dormitories have an increased risk of getting meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal infections can be treated with drugs such as penicillin. Still, about one of every 10 people who get the disease dies from it and many others are affected for life. This is why preventing the disease through the use of meningococcal vaccine is important for people at high risk.
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