Parents want what’s best for their kids. They want to protect them and see them grow up happy and healthy.
Taking your child to the pediatrician for routine checkups, even when they’re not sick, is a great way to accomplish that.
Another big way parents can help protect their children for the future is through vaccinations.
Starting in infancy, children receive a number of vaccines that have been proven to protect against potentially life-threatening diseases. These vaccines are incredible developments in public health, as they not only protect the people who receive them, they also protect those who cannot get vaccinated through herd immunity.
The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has even created a social media campaign painting pediatricians and other healthcare providers as superhero sidekicks by vaccinating kids — and it’s not wrong.
Over the years, many diseases that could cause serious childhood illness have been sidelined by vaccines.
Take measles, for example. While measles is very contagious and can cause serious illness, it’s important to note that two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine are 97% effective against measles, offering lifelong protection.
“The measles virus can cause a high fever, rash, cough, pink eye and a runny nose,” said Julie Holland, MD, FAAP, vice chairman of the department of pediatrics at Endeavor Health. “Kids younger than 5 are particularly susceptible to complications from measles, which can include pneumonia, ear infections, hearing loss and severe brain swelling. Measles can also be fatal. There have been three deaths so far from the recent outbreak in the United States.”
If you’re an adult who has not been vaccinated for measles, it’s not too late to get your shots.
Measles isn’t the only important childhood vaccine. Over the years, vaccines have saved millions of lives. Before vaccines, many children died from serious or life-threatening illnesses that vaccines now prevent, such as whooping cough, rotavirus, measles, polio and meningitis. Additionally, a yearly influenza vaccine protects your whole family against severe flu symptoms and complications.
Vaccines are safe and effective, and work with your child’s immune system to prevent disease.
Staying current on your children’s vaccinations will protect them from these once-common and dangerous illnesses. Immunizing your child will also help protect those who can’t be vaccinated and prevent outbreaks of disease in your community and schools.
Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about your child’s vaccination schedule. Don’t let myths and misinformation about vaccine safety confuse you about what’s best for your child.
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