About Immunizations
Immunizations
Childhood immunizations (vaccinations) are extremely important in protecting children from common infectious diseases. Children who receive vaccinations are protected from other unvaccinated individuals who may be carriers of harmful diseases. Immunizations are also essential in that it is much less expensive to prevent an illness by getting a vaccine than it is to treat it. Immunizations are important for a child’s health and well-being. You may want to know about the safety of immunizations or the immunization schedule to follow.
Vaccinating children helps:
- Keep children and adults healthy
- Keep others healthy
- Save time and money in the treatment of certain infectious disease
Our World Without Immunizations
Vaccines have reduced or eliminated many of the infectious disease that at one time killed or harmed many infants, children, and adults in the United States. Immunizations are responsible for preventing 3 million child deaths a year. However, the viruses and bacteria that cause vaccine-preventable disease and death still exist. They can be passed on to people who are not protected by vaccines. Vaccine-preventable diseases have many social and economic costs:
- More doctor’s visits
- More hospitalizations
- More premature deaths
- Parents lose time from work to stay home with sick children
There are many parents who believe that the potential risks of immunizations outweigh the benefits. Some of the common misconceptions are that immunizations cause autism, and many different side effects, including death. Some also think that vaccine-preventable diseases no longer exist within the United States. Parents may also resist giving their children immunizations because of religious purposes. Some want to avoid any pain afflicted on their children or others.
Without immunizations, our world would be a very different place. Infectious diseases that have previously been wiped out would still be plaguing our country. Other diseases that are currently very uncommon in the U.S., such as polio and measles, would still be very prevalent. Immunizations make our schools and public places safe for us and our children. If a child that is not immunized contracts an infectious disease, he may also infect other children who have not had their immunizations.
Links About Immunizations
About Immunizations
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.cispimmunize.org/Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htmImmunization Action Coalition
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/video/chop1.aspImmune-wise.org
http://www.immun-wize.org/National Mental Health Information Center
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0045/default.aspThe Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/microsite/microsite.jsp?id=75918
Eliminate Disparities in Adult and Child Immunization Rates
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/omh/AMH/factsheets/immunization.htm
Infectious Disease Information
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/index.htm
Misconceptions About Immunizations
Quackwatch
http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/immu/immu00.html
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/
Parent’s Guide to Childhood Immunizations
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/Parents-Guide/default.htm
Responding to Parental Refusals of Immunization of Children
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/5/1428
Seasonal Flu
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
The Vaccine Technology Development
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/iso/research_activties/vaxdev.htm
Traveler’s Health
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspxCenter for Disease Control and Prevention
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentVaccinations.aspx
Viral Hepatitis
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm
What Would Happen if we Stopped Immunizations?
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/fs/gen/WhatIfStop.htm
