As a parent, you want to give only the best to your child and that includes their health. Young children are more susceptible to infections and diseases because their immune system is not yet fully developed. The best way you can protect them is by having them immunized and not to miss any of the recommended immunizations for them.
Importance of Immunization
Children die every day because of an infection or disease that could have easily been prevented had those children been vaccinated. Vaccines prevent approximately 2.5 million child deaths each year worldwide, and could still save 2 million more children.
More Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child
- Vaccines can save lives. It protects children from vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, pneumonia, mumps, and many more. Aside from protecting children against diseases, it also helps them avoid complications of these vaccine-preventable diseases that may lead to limb paralysis, hearing loss, brain damage, convulsions, leg or arm amputation, and even death.
- Vaccines help healthy children stay healthy.
- When you vaccinate your child, you are not just protecting one child. You are also helping protect an entire community.
- The more unvaccinated people roam the world, the more chances of starting a new outbreak. Take for example the most recent measles outbreak in the U.S. It could have been prevented had more people been vaccinated at the time of the epidemic.
Role of Vitamins in Strengthening the Immune System
Aside from getting vaccinated, vitamins are a great way to boost your child’s immune system. Some of the most important vitamins and nutrients your child need are:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Folate/folic acid
- Iron
- Selenium
- Zinc
A healthy diet can help your child get most of the nutrients listed above. However, children can be such picky eaters so ensuring that they have all the vitamins their body needs can be quite a challenge. The use of vitamin supplements can help bridge any nutrient gap your child may have.
Final Thoughts
Do not take your child’s health for granted. Although vitamins can help boost your child’s immune system, they can still get infected with a deadly virus. Essential oils and other natural remedies won’t help either. The only way you can truly protect children is to have them immunized. One of the pediatricians at Pediatrix in Phoenix will be able to explain to you in more detail the importance of immunizations in children.