Immunizations: Are your kids fully covered?
The first day of school is right around the corner and parents are busy making sure kids have new shoes and school supplies. But are immunizations on your list?
During the past two years, many children missed wellness check-ups causing them to miss their recommended vaccinations. Now is the time to get caught up and protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Many diseases that are either deadly or crippling have been dramatically reduced due to vaccinations. If properly vaccinated, your child is protected from the following diseases:
- Chicken Pox
- Diphtheria
- Flu
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hib
- HPV
- Measles
- Meningococcal
- Mumps
- Polio
- Pneumococcal
- Rotavirus
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Whooping Cough
The best way to help ensure your child stays healthy is through regular well-visit checkups with their doctor. During these appointments, your child’s doctor will track their growth and development milestones and discuss any areas of concern about your child’s health. They will recommend vaccinations at various ages and stages of your child’s development. Children who are not protected by vaccines are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough which are extremely contagious and can be very serious for babies and young children. Communities with low vaccination rates have had outbreaks of these diseases.
Vaccines work to strengthen your child’s immune system so it’s best to vaccinate early in order to build up their immune system and before they are exposed to dangerous diseases. Children who are not vaccinated on schedule run the risk of getting sick and also spreading illness to others. Some people have weak immune systems so they rely on others to be vaccinated. By getting your child vaccinated on time and up to date before school starts, you are helping to protect friends and family, teachers, and the community as a whole.
Your child may be eligible for free vaccines through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children program. This federally funded program provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of their inability to pay. For more information visit the CDC Vaccines for Children website.