On this page...
    Training
    Handwashing
    Immunizations
    Child Care Immunization Ordinance


Communicable Disease & Emergency Preparedness Training
The Commuicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness staff have developed and have accessible many courses for those in the community including businesses, child care providers, churches, etc.

The following are some of the topics available. If there is something you would like and it is not listed, please feel free to contact the health department to arrange for a topic of your choice.

In addition to face to face presentations there are many brochures, fact sheets, etc. available for distribution.

Topics Available:

• Emergency Preparedness and Planning
• Handwashing and Standard Precautions
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
• Gastrointestinal Illness
• Influenza
• Pandemic Influenza
• Community Acquired MRSA
• Communicable Diseases in the Childcare Setting

To schedule a course or to order materials please contact the Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness staff at 816-325-7204.

Handwashing

Did You Know?

• 1 out of 3 Americans don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom
• 1 out of 4 adults don’t wash their hands after changing a diaper
• 2 out of 3 people don’t wash their hands after sneezing or coughing

And what a difference those numbers can make! For example, children who wash their hands at least 4 times a day missed 51% fewer school days from an upset stomach and 24% fewer school days from colds and influenza.

How to wash your hands:

• Washing your hands with soap and water is best. If soap or water is not available, use alcohol based hand gels or wipes.
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds. Twenty seconds is longer than you think, sing Happy Birthday, The ABC song or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to get an idea.
• Don’t forget to wash your wrists, backs of hands, between fingers and fingernails.
• Rinse your hands well
• Dry your hands with paper towels
• Turn off the faucet with a paper towel
• If possible, use a paper towel to open the door. Remember, 33% of Americans don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom!

When should you wash your hands?

• After you cough, sneeze or blow your nose
• After using the bathroom or changing a diaper
• Before eating, before preparing food and before setting the table
• Before you touch your eyes, nose or mouth
• After playing with or caring for pets. Pets can carry as many as 100 different germs that can make you sick!
• After playing outside
• Whenever hands look or feel unclean

Immunizations
Disease prevention is the key to public health. It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it. Vaccines prevent disease in the people who receive them and protect those who come into contact with unvaccinated individuals. Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country, including polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

Infants, children and adults all need immunizations. To see what vaccine is needed for each age group, choose the appropriate immunization schedule below.

    ; Childhood Immunization Schedule
    
    Adolescent Immunization Schedule

    Adult Immunization Schedule

Child Care Immunization Ordinance
In August 2003, the City of Independence Health Department passed the Child Care Immunization Ordinance; this ordinance was enacted to enforce the Missouri State Law (Section 210.003 RSM o) requirements on immunizations for child care facilities. Children cannot attend a child care facility unless they are properly immunized and can provide evidence of the immunization (immunization record), or have proper exemption or in progress documentation.

The ordinance also serves to improve and maintain immunization rates in Independence child care facilities, assist in the prevention and control of vaccine preventable diseases and to educate child care providers on methods to maintain immunization rates thus promoting accountability

An immunization record must be on file at the center for every child before they can be accepted for care. All records must be maintained and updated monthly. Immunization audits for Independence child care centers occur at least two times per year and may occur up to four times.

The Child Care Immunization Ordinance has had the following impact on the community:

• Improved immunization rates in child care facilities
• Improved immunizations record keeping methods and accuracy
• An increased understanding of the importance of immunizations, surveillance, and reporting in child care facilities
• Increased educational opportunities for providers and parents

In 2006 the Child Care Immunization Ordinance was recognized nationally as a Model Practice because of its impact on immunization rates in child care facilities and the improved communication between child care centers and the health department.