CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Get a vaccination, win an iPod.

Teenagers don't always keep their shots up to date. So the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is offering prizes - iPod Touches, Dell laptops and $50 Visa gift cards - for kids and young adults who enter a drawing after they've had a recommended round of immunizations.

"It's just to get them up to date," said Krista Farley, a Health Department spokeswoman. "As children get older, protection provided by some vaccines can begin to wear off, and they can develop risks for other diseases."

Last year, for instance, a chickenpox outbreak rocked Charleston Catholic High School. Health officials determined that most of the dozen students who contracted the disease hadn't received a booster vaccination.

"A second chickenpox shot is newly recommended, and many adolescents have only received one dose," Farley said. "Most teenagers don't go back in for their boosters."

Only children and young adults ages 11 to 21 qualify for the contest. Their doctor must confirm that they've had the following vaccinations:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Get a vaccination, win an iPod.

Teenagers don't always keep their shots up to date. So the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is offering prizes - iPod Touches, Dell laptops and $50 Visa gift cards - for kids and young adults who enter a drawing after they've had a recommended round of immunizations.

"It's just to get them up to date," said Krista Farley, a Health Department spokeswoman. "As children get older, protection provided by some vaccines can begin to wear off, and they can develop risks for other diseases."

Last year, for instance, a chickenpox outbreak rocked Charleston Catholic High School. Health officials determined that most of the dozen students who contracted the disease hadn't received a booster vaccination.

"A second chickenpox shot is newly recommended, and many adolescents have only received one dose," Farley said. "Most teenagers don't go back in for their boosters."

Only children and young adults ages 11 to 21 qualify for the contest. Their doctor must confirm that they've had the following vaccinations:

Children can enter the drawing by sending in special Health Department "Take Your Best Shot" postcards, which are available at area doctors' offices. The contest deadline is Dec. 31.

Most adolescents who attend school will only need a flu shot to qualify for the drawing, Farley said. The Health Department holds walk-in flu shot clinics 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days a week.

For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending flu shots for all youths, not just young children.

Students returning home from college next week can schedule an immunization appointment Monday at the health agency.

So far, about 35 kids have entered the drawing. The Health Department is giving away two Dell 1526 laptop computers, two iPod Touches, four $50 Visa gift cards and other prizes.

"Vaccines not only help protect vaccinated individuals from developing potentially serious diseases, they also safeguard the entire community by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious disease," Farley said.

To contact the Health Department or schedule an appointment, call 348-8080.

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 348-4869.