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Before
vaccines, parents in the United States could expect every
year over the course of the 20th century:
Polio would paralyze 10,000 children.
Rubella would cause birth defects and mental
retardation in as many as 20,000
newborns.
Measles would infect about 4 million children,
killing, 3,000.
Diphtheria would be one of the most common causes
of death in school-aged
children.
A bacterium called Haemophilus influenzae typ b (HIB)
would cause meningitis
in 15,000 children, leaving many with
permanent brain damage.
Pertussis (whooping cough) would kill
thousands of infants.
Vaccines
have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases
that killed or severely disabled people just a few
generations before.
Disease
prevention is the key to public health. It is better to
prevent a disease than to treat it. Vaccines prevent the
disease in the people who receive them and protect those who
come in contact with unvaccinated individuals. Vaccines
help prevent infectious diseases and save lives.
It is
true that newborn babies are immune to many diseases because
they have antibodies they got from their mothers. However,
the duration of this immunity may last only a month to about
a year. Young children do not have maternal immunity
against some vaccine-preventable diseases, such as whooping
cough.
If a
child is not vaccinated and is exposed to a disease, the
child’s body may not be strong enough to fight the disease.
Vaccines
are not just for babies and young children. As children get
older, the protection provided by some early childhood
vaccines can wear off. Don’t assume that your child
received all recommended vaccinations in the past. Parents
need to keep good records. Save your vaccine cards for each
child and bring them to all well child visits with your
provider. This will prevent having to repeat any vaccines.
This is extremely important if families move around a lot.
As an
adult, you need protection by immunization, as well.
Vaccines can prevent diseases such as measles,
mumps, rubella,
tetanus, diphtheria, pneumococcal disease, influenza,
varicella, hepatitis A and B.
Many
people think some diseases have been wiped out. This is not
the case. In 1995, at least 39 percent of all reported
measles cases in the U.S. occurred in persons 20 years of
age or older.
If you
were never immunized or never had these vaccine-preventable
diseases, you are at risk. If you were immunized as a child
you may need updating because some of the immunizations
loose their effectiveness over time.
Remember… immunizations are not just kids’ stuff.
Today,
vaccines are held to the highest standard of safety. The
United States currently has the most effective vaccine
supply in history. Years of testing are required by law
before a vaccine can be licensed. Once in use, vaccines are
continually monitored for safety and efficacy.
Your
provider is the best one to ask about immunizations. Next
time you have a visit ask if you need any immunizations.
The health department is another source for immunizations
and up to date vaccine information. There are web sites
that are great for information. Two of them are;
www.cdc.gov/vaccines
(this is also a good site if you are traveling to check what
immunizations you may need) and www.immunize.org.
Recommended immunizations for ages 0-6; DTaP, Hib, Hep B,
Hep A, Polio, MMR, Rotavirus, Varicella and Pnemonococcal.
Recommended immunizations for ages 7-18; TDaP, Human
Papillomavirus, Meningococcal, Influenza, Hep B, Hep. A, (if
you haven’t had these). Catch up vaccines if you haven’t
had them previously, as recommended by your provider.
Recommended immunizations for adults; TDap, Influenza,
Pnemococcal, Hep B, Hep A, (if you haven’t had these) and
are at risk. Catch up vaccines if you haven’t had them
previously, as recommended by your provider.
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