Exclusion Day sees parents vaccinating kids in Coos County

COOS COUNTY, ORE. — COOS BAY, Ore. - Students in Coos County were given free immunizations Wednesday on what is known in Oregon as Exclusion Day.

Children must have required vaccinations - or a qualified exemption on record - to continue attending school.

Lena Hawtin is a medical staff giving the various vaccines.

"We have DTAP which has Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis," said Lena Hawtin, medical staff administering the vaccines Wednesday, "or for the adolescents it's actually 'TDAP'. Polio, Varicella for chicken pox, MMR which is mumps, measles, rubella. Hepatitis B, hepatitis A, and the haemophilus influenzae, the 'Hib."

A crowd gathered in the lobby around 9 a.m. as parents waited for their kid to receive the proper shots - and get back to school.

William Cook, a seventh grader at North Bend Middle School, was one of the students.

His mother, Valerie Cook, took her younger kids to get vaccinated at Coos Health and Wellness before they had a primary care physician through the Oregon Health Plan.

She said when she found out William was missing his TDAP, she immediately thought to come again.

"I believe in everyone's right to choose what they think is best for their own family, but it's also my opinion that no child should ever suffer or die from a completely preventable illness," she said. "All of my children have been vaccinated on schedule."

William said he's glad to get his booster shot.

"This shot will prevent hepatitis B by 98 percent," he said.

Hawtin said it's a preventative measure. "With the measles outbreak that we had recently, it's very important that they stay caught up on their immunizations," Hawtin said. "They need these to stay in school."

This is a free resource Coos Health and Wellness offers every year.