Benefits of Vaccinations

Most parents want to give their children a healthy and safe start in life. We know the importance of proper nutrition, baby-proofing the house, car seats, and other ways to keep them safe and protected. However, one of the best things you can do to give your children a healthy start is getting them vaccinated.

To celebrate the importance of immunizations for a healthy start and throughout our lives, here are reasons you should vaccinate your child(ren) according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Immunizations save lives

Thanks to advances in medical science and research, children can be protected from more diseases than in previous generations. Some diseases have been nearly eliminated due to safe and effective vaccines. However, vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, chickenpox, and whooping cough still exist. If someone is not protected by vaccines, being infected with the virus could cause illness or even death. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases ( NFID), nearly 50,000 adults die from vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States each year.

Polio was once our country’s most-feared disease, causing death and illness to children and adults throughout the United States. Thanks to vaccines, there have been no reports of polio originating in the U.S. since 1979. If we continue fully vaccinating our children now, future parents may be able to trust that some of today’s diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children.

Vaccines are safe and effective

Children only receive vaccines after they are carefully reviewed and researched by scientists, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. While getting a vaccine may cause discomfort or redness at the injection site, the pain trauma is far less than being diagnosed with and recovering from the diseases the vaccines prevent. Vaccine side effects such as allergic reactions are rare, and minor symptoms (sore arm, low-grade fever) disappear in a few days. The disease-prevention benefits far outweigh the possible side effects in the majority of children.

Immunizations protect your loved ones

Vaccine-preventable diseases that may make you sick for a week could be deadly to your children or parents if they contract the disease. Children (and even adults) can still get vaccine-preventable diseases. Since 2010, there has been a resurgence of measles and whooping cough in the U.S. Babies are too young to be fully vaccinated, while other children and adults may be unable to get vaccinated because of allergies or weakened immune systems due to an illness. If you and your children are able to get fully immunized, it is important to do so to keep your family safe. Vaccination not only protects your family, but it also prevents the spread of disease to your loved ones.

Vaccines can time and money

If your child has a vaccine-preventable disease, s/he can denied from attending school, childcare, or other extracurricular activities. Some of these diseases can cause prolonged or permanent disability, resulting in lost time at work, increased medical bills, or in-home care. Getting vaccinated is an investment in you and your family’s health and is usually covered by insurance. If you don’t have insurance, Vaccines for Children provides vaccines to low-income or visit the Center for Disease Control’s website for the recommended immunization schedule for your child(ren), or call the MMC’s Department of Public Health at 712.755.4422.