IMMUNIZATIONS.
Ah, it's that time of year where we begin to pull out our fall clothing,
finish up the kids' back-to-school shopping and start getting into our old routine.
But each year we are confronted with the required paperwork about immunizations
for our kids. Are these shots necessary or a potential health hazard to our children?
Before you fight these shots, let's take a look at how they can save lives, the
immunization schedule and the importance of being compliant.
What are immunizations? Immunizations are the injection
of a vaccine that will prevent the development of many serious and life-threatening
illnesses.
These preventable illnesses include hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis,
haemophilus influenzae, polio, pneumococcus, measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox
(varicella). These shots are given on a specific time schedule from birth through
age 12.
What is a vaccine? A vaccine is actually a live or dead,
weakened strain of a particular virus or bacteria. When the vaccine is injected
in the body, the immune
system is stimulated to build defenses against the illness through the development
of antibodies.
When a disease epidemic is present and a child is exposed to one of the illnesses,
the body is able to fight off the illness through the use of the already developed
antibodies. The antibodies are like soldiers that are prepared for war and go
into battle.
Are vaccines safe? Yes! Vaccines have been used successfully
and safely for decades. They are not injected into the blood stream, but into
the muscle or fat. Most
vaccines are more than 90 percent effective in helping the body develop full
immunity to a disease, and if not, most people will have partial immunity.
What are the side effects? Most side effects are minor
and may involve the development of a low-grade fever. Some children may develop
local reactions at the site of
the injection or pain in the muscle.
It is very rare, but one in 500,000 children will develop an allergic reaction
that may require a trip to the emergency department for a shot of epinephrine
(adrenaline), Benadryl and a steroid such as prednisone. The risks are very minimal,
considering the consequences of having your child be vulnerable to many serious
illnesses.
Why should I immunize my child? Immunizations have a proven
track record of being safe and preventing serious illness. Neonates have the
immunity of their mother
through the age of four months, but only if their mother has a strong immunity
system.
Medical studies have shown that through the use of the pertussis vaccine, whooping
cough is nearly non-existent. The haemophilus vaccine has prevented nearly all
cases of this type of meningitis, which can leave a child with severe brain damage.
Children are no longer paralyzed from polio. Severe blood infections caused by
pneumococcus are no longer an issue with most children. The chance of liver cancer
as an adult has been reduced through the use of hepatitis vaccines.
Will I be forced to immunize my child? No. Federal
law requires all school-aged children attending school to be immunized for their
age. Exemptions are made
if the child has to catch up due to prolonged illness. In the event that a parent
has a religious, moral or medical issue preventing immunization, appropriate
paperwork must be filled. A child may still be prevented from attending day care
or school in the event of an epidemic in a vaccine-preventable illness, such
as measles or mumps.
What should I do? I strongly recommend that you have
your children fully and completely immunized. The benefits far outweigh the risks.
If cost is an issue,
all states have local and federal programs that will provide for low-cost or
free immunizations. Check with your local office of health and human services
for this information.
It is obvious that in the United States, we are strongly committed to eradicating
preventable life-threatening illnesses. Several decades of medical data have
supported the success of the immunization program. Do not place your child at
risk for a lifetime of medical complications that could have been prevented!
