Parents want to do what is best for their child and list doctors visits and immunizations among the most important things that keep their children healthy.
Infant immunization programs have proven so successful that threats like rubella, mumps, and diphtheria are almost unheard of. Vaccine—preventable disease levels are at or near record lows. That’s great news.
But there’s another side. Without the protection of vaccination, these former diseases of childhood can shift towards adolescence. And contracting these diseases later in life can create greater health risks to your child.
When the chicken pox vaccine became available in 1995, the rate of infection–and occurrences of death—dramatically decreased. But in the last 20 months a trend unseen in over 10 years is emerging; outbreaks of chicken pox are occurring within populations that have not vaccinated against this disease.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) states that, “Even though most infants and toddlers have received all recommended vaccines by age 2, many under-immunized children remain, leaving the potential for outbreaks of disease. Many adolescents and adults are under-immunized as well, missing opportunities to protect themselves against diseases such as Hepatitis B, influenza, and pneumococcal disease.”
Now is the time to review the vaccination records of your youngster or teenager. Make sure they’re immunized against measles, chicken pox, hepatitis B and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Don’t forget to ask their pediatrician about boosters taken after the initial vaccination. That way they won’t contract these childhood diseases later in life.
You’ll enjoy greater peace of mind in these stressful times.
