No Excuses

For 25 years, county government’s Mary Wright has been trying to give something away that’s important to all of us, yet she still comes up against a tough audience. The product is vaccine, and it’s free for the asking.

Despite that, the numbers on those who fall behind in needed immunizations is startling:

One out of every three children in Orange County between birth and the age of 2--the primary age for receiving vaccines--is far behind on necessary immunization injections. The result is that parents are rushing to doctors for updated shots now that their children are about to enter school, where immunizations must be kept current.

“Our line was out the door this morning,” said Patty Lopez, supervisor at the county immunization clinic in Santa Ana.

Why is it that we love our infants so much but we let something so important slide by?

The reasons aren’t economic, says Wright, director of the county’s Immunization Assistance Project: “Some people with the best possible insurance fall behind on getting their toddlers immunized.”

Statistics, according to Wright, show a pattern when parents have several children. The first two or three are much more likely to get all their shots than those who follow. Young children of single parents also are less likely to get all their shots.

“There’s so much for a single parent to do just raising a child,” Wright said. “Getting your shots gets moved down the priority list.”

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Another problem: Your children now need so many more vaccines than you and I did at that age--20 separate injections by the time the child is in elementary school. Up to 2 years of age: four DTAPs (diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus), three for polio, one for measles, four for meningitis and three for hepatitis B. Between second and fifth grades, each child also is required to add two for hepatitis A, one for measles, one for polio and one for DTAP. Parents can sign waivers exempting their children, but few do.

Many parents, however, do tell county officials they see no need for all these shots.

“It’s always hard to sell prevention,” Wright said. “Success in medicine makes people complacent. We don’t hear about polio outbreaks like we used to.”

But without the needed shots, your child is left unprotected if there is an outbreak, as in 1989, when a serious measles problem arose here in Orange County.

“When I give talks, people think of even 1989 as being a long time ago,” Wright said. “Well, it wasn’t that long ago if it was your child affected.”

The county provides free vaccine to many clinics throughout the county. If your child’s shots are not up to date, Wright urges you to see your doctor immediately. Or head to one of the county’s four walk-in clinics. Here are the addresses and phone numbers:

1725 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, (714) 834-8019; 7342 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, (714) 670-1680; 2845 Mesa Verde Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 662-4590; and 27512 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 248-2212.

The Santa Ana clinic is open Monday through Friday. The others have more limited hours, so you should call to inquire.

You can also call the county’s toll-free number--(800) 564-8448--for information on the county’s mobile unit and other clinics that provide immunizations. It’s a busy time at these clinics, with everybody rushing to play catch-up. When I called the toll-free number, I was told to be prepared for a three-hour wait at the Santa Ana clinic.

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Readers may reach Hicks by calling (714) 564-1049 or e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com