Today’s vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools for preventing disease and death and have helped many illnesses become distant memories. However, many parents are still unclear which vaccines their children should receive or if their children should receive any at all? School-age children, from preschoolers to college students, need vaccines. Here are five important reasons to vaccinate your child:
• Immunizations can save your child’s life
The polio vaccine is one example of the impact that vaccines can have on the eradication of a disease. Dr. Anatasia Fokas, Pediatrician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center, states, “Vaccines have eradicated many illnesses which have caused death and paralysis in the past. Thankfully, medical advancements have eliminated diseases such as polio and today, there are no reports of polio in the United States.”
• Vaccinations are safe and effective
With extensive testing and careful monitoring of quality, safety, and effectiveness, vaccines are reviewed and approved by a panel of scientists, doctors and healthcare professionals. “Vaccines may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of the injection,” but Dr. Fokas advises, “This shouldn’t deter families from receiving the vaccines. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.”
• Immunizations protect others you care about
Getting your child vaccinated at the scheduled times helps prevent the spread of diseases to you and your loved ones. In 2010, a resurgence of whooping cough (pertussis) and measles caused 26 deaths out of the 21,000 cases presented; most of the deaths were in children under 6 months. Infants need time to build their immunity and may not be able to receive vaccines at birth. For this reason, it is important for you and your children to receive the vaccinations to help prevent these occurrences.
• Immunizations can save your family time and money
“Getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance,” says Dr. Fokas. Children with vaccine-preventable diseases can be denied permission to attend school or day care. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care. Ensuring that you and your loved ones receive the scheduled vaccinations can save your family time and money.
• Immunizations protect future generations
If we have effective vaccination programs in place today we will be able to prevent the spread of disease s in the future.
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s On-Site Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center is located on the ground floor of the hospital. Please call 718-206-7001 to schedule an appointment with one of our Pediatricians.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.