Our Family Helping Your Family
Baby Shots:
Don't Compromise... Immunize!
En español
History
Vaccinations
Links to our partners:
2008 Baby Shots brochure
2008 Dates and Locations for FREE Immunization
PLEASE NOTE: Immunization records must be brought with you to the Baby Shots event.
History of Baby Shots
In 1994, the Phoenix Fire Department members discovered that the percentage of children appropriately immunized in Arizona was extremely low. Having always been proactive in meeting the needs of the community, a free childhood immunization program was developed and implemented. Vaccine is provided through "Vaccine for Children" which is a federally funded program for the uninsured.
The Baby Shots Immunization Program has grown tremendously over the last five years, from one "special immunization event" to seven regular clinic sites. Growth of the program is attributed to clinic environments that are user-friendly. Through partnering in the community, clinics are held in community centers, schools, hospitals and shopping malls all with easy access. The majority of the firefighters and nurses working at the clinics are bilingual and all printed materials are in Spanish and English. Clinic hours are on weekends and late weekday afternoons to accommodate working parents.
The Phoenix Fire Department is committed to achieving improved vaccine coverage against vaccine preventable diseases. The Baby Shots program offers all immunizations that are required for day care and school entry. For more information on Baby Shots, call 602-534-BABY.
Vaccinations
Baby Shots protect against 13 serious childhood diseases:- Measles causes a high fever, rash, sore eyes and cold-like symptoms. It can lead to hearing loss, breathing problems, pneumonia, brain damage and death.
- Mumps causes headache, fever and painful swelling of the cheeks and jaw. In some cases, it can lead to hearing loss, swelling of the brain and spinal cord, and brain damage.
- Rubella (German Measles) is highly contagious and causes a fever and rash on the face and neck. A pregnant woman who gets Rubella can lose her baby, or have a baby with severe birth defects.
- Diphtheria causes a severe throat infection that makes it very hard to swallow and breath.
- Tetanus (Lockjaw) causes severe muscle spasms, breathing and heart problems, and may lead to death.
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough) causes longs spells of coughing that makes it hard for a child to eat, drink and breath. It can lead to pneumonia, seizures and death.
- Polio can cause lifelong paralysis and deformity.
- Haemophilus Influenza Type B causes joint, eye, ear and lung infections, and meningitis which may lead to brain damage or death.
- Pneumococcus is the leading cause of serious illness among young children worldwide. It is the most frequent cause of meningitis, blood infections, pneumonia, sinusitis and ear infections.
- Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease that can cause "flu-like" symptoms, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), severe stomach pain, diarrhea, and in rare cases, death.
- Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection that can lead to liver damage, liver cancer and in some cases, death.
- Varicella (Chicken Pox) is a highly contagious disease that causes fever, tiredness and weakness, followed by an itchy blister-like rash.
- Rotavirus is a highly contagious disease that causes diarrhea, vomiting and fever. May lead to severe dehydration and death.