You want to do what is best for your children. You know about the importance of car seats, baby gates and other ways to keep them safe. But, did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations? Here are five very important reasons to immunize your children.
1. Immunizations can save your child’s life. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children have been eliminated completely and others are close to being gone-primarily due to safe and effective vaccines.
2. Vaccination is safe and effective. All vaccines are only given to children after careful review by scientists and healthcare professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort such as pain, redness, or tenderness at the injection site, but this is minimal compared to the pain and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. The most comprehensive scientific studies and reviews have not found a link between vaccines and autism.
3. Immunizations protect others you care about. Serious vaccine preventable diseases still occur. Unfortunately, some babies are too young to be completely vaccinated, and some people may not be able to receive vaccinations due to illness, weakened immune systems or other reasons. To keep these individuals safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized.
4. Immunizations can save your family time and money. A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be kept out of school or daycare facilities, and a prolonged illness can take a financial toll because of lost time at work and medical bills. In comparison, getting vaccinated is a good investment and is usually covered by insurance. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of an inability to pay. Talk to your immunization provider for more information on this program, or visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/
5. Immunizations protect future generations. Vaccines have reduced, and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations before. For example, smallpox vaccination helped eradicate that disease worldwide. Ongoing vaccination may help eliminate other diseases for future generations.
If you would like more information about immunizations or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us.