Every parent wants to avoid having sick kids, but there are some families who are not taking every step toward keeping children safe from preventable illnesses. Child immunizations are a very important part of childhood health and fewer child immunizations means more sick kids.
Both preventable illnesses and preventable deaths have been caused by a lack of child immunizations. The website www.antivaccinebodycount.com tabulates data from the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports to highlight this data. As of September 2014, numbers indicate over 139,000 preventable illnesses and over 6000 preventable deaths in the United States of America since June 2007.
Group Immunity is Key
The reason the anti-vaccination movement has led to children becoming ill or dying is a lack of herd immunity. In order to protect members of the population who are too young to be or cannot be vaccinated, every other member of the population must receive adult or child immunization. The anti-vaccination movement has reduced this herd immunity as it encourages people who should be vaccinated to not bother. More sick kids result, herd immunity is lost, and illness and disease spreads, especially to those who legitimately cannot be vaccinated.
In some areas of the United States, there are high numbers of unvaccinated children so illness spreads very rapidly throughout schools and neighborhoods.
A Healthy Step
Child immunizations are a regular and routine part of healthcare for children and it is an important subject to discuss with your Glendale pediatricians. All Glendale pediatricians will recommend vaccines for your child, if they are a suitable candidate. Conditions that preclude children from vaccinations include certain age restrictions, allergic reactions to vaccine ingredients, and immune disorders or other health conditions. Some prescription medications do not mix well with particular child immunizations. Glendale pediatricians can advise parents about their child’s specific circumstances and determine what vaccinations, if any, should be avoided.
Child immunizations, in general, are very safe and these vaccinations have been scrutinized through numerous studies before being released.
The best way for all children to stay healthy and well is widespread immunization. Most children experience little to no side effects from immunizations, but for those who cannot be vaccinated, it is a matter of life and death.
Do your part in stopping preventable deaths and illnesses, keep all children safe and healthy, and talk to your Glendale pediatricians about child immunizations.
