Immunizations can save your child’s life.
If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.
Everyone knows about the importance of car seats, baby gates and keeping firearms and medicines away from children. Along with injury prevention, parents need to make sure their children have all required vaccinations.
Advances in medical science have helped to protect against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children have been eliminated completely, and others are close to extinction — primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. Polio was once America’s most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States.
Vaccinations are safe and effective.
Vaccines are given to children only after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors and healthcare professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness or tenderness at the site of injection, but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones. Check with your child’s pediatrician to stay up-to-date on immunizations.
For more information about the importance of infant and adolescent immunization, visit www.cdc. gov/vaccines.
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.hhs.gov/ immunization/get-vaccinated/for-parents/five-reasons/index.html
