Miller County Health Center
IMMUNIZATIONS
Immunizations are one of the greatest accomplishments of public health. Once common diseases are becoming a rare occurrence thanks to individuals who vaccinate. The Miller County Health Center is proud to offer immunizations to our community.
Click on the vaccine below to learn more
Many common vaccines are available at the Health Center and could be free or available at a reduced price. Please call for prices.
Not sure what the latest requirements and recommendations are for immunization schedules? Check here!
Why Vaccinate?
Why Vaccinate?
Sometimes we are confused by the messages on social media or in the media. Here is the truth about vaccines.
Diseases are becoming rare due to vaccinations.
It’s true, some diseases (like polio and diphtheria) are becoming very rare in the U.S. Of course, they are becoming rare largely because we have been vaccinating against them. But it is still reasonable to ask whether it’s really worthwhile to keep vaccinating.
It’s much like bailing out a boat with a slow leak. When we started bailing, the boat was filled with water. But we have been bailing fast and hard, and now it is almost dry. We could say, “Good. The boat is dry now, so we can throw away the bucket and relax.” But the leak hasn’t stopped. Before long we’d notice a little water seeping in, and soon it might be back up to the same level as when we started.
Keep immunizing until disease is eliminated.
Unless we can “stop the leak” (eliminate the disease), it is important to keep immunizing. Even if there are only a few cases of disease today, if we take away the protection given by vaccination, more and more people will become infected and will spread disease to others. Soon we will undo the progress we have made over the years.
What if we stopped vaccinating?
Diseases that are almost eliminated would stage a comeback. Before long we would see epidemics of diseases that are nearly under control today. More children would get sick and more would die.
We vaccinate to protect our future.
We don’t vaccinate just to protect our children. We also vaccinate to protect our grandchildren and their grandchildren. With one disease, smallpox, we “stopped the leak” in the boat by eradicating the disease. Our children don’t have to get smallpox shots anymore because the disease no longer exists. Smallpox is now only a memory, and if we keep vaccinating against other diseases, the same will someday be true for them too. Vaccinations are one of the best ways to put an end to the serious effects of certain diseases.