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April Blog

APRIL BLOG

CHILD IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS

Why Are Childhood Vaccines So Important?

Common diseases we once knew when I was young such as: polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus, rotavirus and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) have pretty much been eradicated by vaccinations. One of the most horrific diseases, smallpox, has been eliminated to the point it mainly exists in laboratories!

How to best protect your children? Through “Immunity!”

“Immunity” is the body’s way of dealing with and preventing disease! Children are born with an immune system comprised of cells, glands, organs, and fluids, or immune system, throughout the body! This system recognizes “bad germs” or “infections” entering into the body as invaders or “antigens” and then produces proteins called “antibodies” to fight them.

When a child has an infection or antigen, the immune system produces antibodies by working with their body’s natural defenses to help them safely develop immunity to disease. Fighting antigens or infections takes time – and the child usually still gets sick. Why? Because fighting infections is a slow process. The immune system doesn’t work fast enough to prevent antigens from causing disease - but the system does remember that antigen for the next fight! Once it fights off the infection, the body has a supply of cells that help recognize and fight that disease in the future. Even if it enters the body after several years, the immune system remembers and produces antibodies faster to protect the body from disease. This protection is called immunity.

And there’s breastfeeding!

Breastfeeding is a natural occurrence between a mother and child. Deaths of children under the age of five could be prevented globally yearly with increased breastfeeding.[7]Breast milk has antibodies that can help prevent your baby from getting sick. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of respiratory tract infections and diarrhea, lowers the risk of asthma, food allergies, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, and leukemia.[3] Breastfeeding may also improve cognitive development and decrease the risk of obesity in adulthood.[2]

Other benefits of breastfeeding:

Breast milk naturally has all the nutrients babies need to grow and develop.
Breastfeeding can help prevent health problems in your baby, such as allergies, eczema, ear infections, and stomach problems.
Breastfed babies are less likely to be hospitalized with breathing infections.
Breastfed babies are less likely to become obese or have diabetes.
Breastfeeding may help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Mothers who breastfeed find it easier to lose weight after pregnancy.
Breastfeeding may help lower the risk for breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes, and certain other diseases in mothers.

The scoop on Vaccines. Vaccines contain the same antigens or parts of antigens that cause diseases, such as the measles vaccine contains the measles virus. The vaccine antigens have been either killed or weakened so they don’t cause disease, but are strong enough to make the immune system produce antibodies that lead to immunity! A child can protection without getting sick, but sometimes after getting a vaccine, the imitation infection can cause minor symptoms, such as a slight fever. These minor symptoms are considered normal and should be expected as the body builds immunity. As your child gets older, they will require additional doses of some vaccines for the best protection. Learn more about vaccines for your pre-teens and teens.

More Facts

Newborns are generally immune to many diseases through the antibodies they received got from their mothers, although the immunity is lost during their first year.
When an unvaccinated child is exposed to an antigen, the child’s system may not be strong enough to fight the disease.
Before vaccines, children died from diseases that vaccines now prevent. Antigens such as: whooping cough, measles and polio still exist but with vaccines, children are protected.
The immunization of children aids in protecting the health in your community, especially for those individuals who cannot be immunized, such as infants, the very young who can’t be vaccinated or those cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons
Diseases that are prevented by vaccinations are also costly – resulting in visits to the doctor, hospital, as well as parents missing days from work!

Vaccines and Your Child’s Immune System

Some parents get upset or are concerned when your baby receives 3 or 4 shots during a doctor’s visit. Those shots add up to protect the child against at least “14 infectious diseases”. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), medical and public health experts, who have developed recommendations on the vaccination schedule. The schedule designed by the ACIP.

Infant Immunizations FAQs

Are vaccines safe?

A: Yes. Vaccines are very safe. The United States’ long-standing vaccine safety system ensures that vaccines are as safe as possible. The United States has the safest vaccine supply in its history. Millions of children receive vaccines safely each year. The most common side effects are typically very mild, such as pain or swelling at the injection site.

What are the side effects of the vaccines? How do I treat them?

A: Vaccines, like any medication, may cause some side effects. Most side effects are very minor, such as soreness where the shot was given, fussiness or a low-grade fever. These side effects typically only last a couple of days and are treatable, such as applying a cool, wet washcloth on the sore area to ease the discomfort. However, if your child experiences any reactions that concern you, call the doctor’s office.

What are the risks and benefits of vaccines?

A: Vaccines can prevent infectious diseases that once killed or harmed many infants, children, and adults. Without vaccines, your child is at risk of becoming seriously ill, suffering pain, disability and even death from diseases like measles and whooping cough. The primary risks associated with vaccines are side effects, which are almost always mild.

Serious side effects, such as a severe allergic reaction, are very rare and doctors and clinic staff are trained to deal with them. The disease-prevention benefit of getting vaccinations, are greater than the possible side effects. The only exceptions are cases when a child has a serious chronic medical condition such as cancer, diseases that weaken the immune system or severe allergic reactions to a previous vaccine dose.

Is there a link between vaccines and autism?

A: No. Scientific studies and reviews continue to show no relationship between vaccines and autism! However, numerous scientists and researchers have studied and continue to study the MMR (measles- mumps-rubella) vaccine and Thimerosal and links to Autism and reach the conclusion: there is no link between MMR vaccine or thimerosal and autism.

Q: Haven’t we gotten rid of most of these diseases in this country?

A: Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as Pertussis (whooping cough) and Chickenpox, remain common in the United States. Other diseases are no longer common in this country because of vaccines. Serious vaccine-preventable diseases are uncommon in the United States but are common in other parts of the world. Even if you do not travel internationally, your family could come into contact with international travelers anywhere in your community.

Do I have to vaccinate my baby on schedule if I’m breastfeeding him?

A: Yes, even breastfed babies need to be protected with vaccines at the recommended ages. The immune system is not fully developed at birth and breast milk provides important protection from some infections as your baby’s immune system is developing, such as a lower risk of ear infections, respiratory tract infections and diarrhea. However, breast milk does not protect children against all diseases. Even in breastfed infants, vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many diseases. Your baby needs the long-term protection that can only come from making sure he receives all his vaccines according to the CDC’s recommended schedule.

For more FAQ’s go to https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/parent-questions.html