Immunizations have been so successful in the United States, some people take them for granted, ignoring the importance of getting themselves and their children vaccinated. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 percent of U.S. children are missing one or more recommended immunizations. Yet making sure your children have been properly immunized is still one of the best ways you can protect them against dangerous -- even deadly -- infectious diseases.

Don't Wait to Vaccinate

Most vaccines recommended for young children are the ones that protect against serious, potentially life-threatening diseases. Children's immune systems are still developing and may need help fighting off serious infection. Before vaccines were widely used, many children died of diseases that vaccines prevent today, such as whooping cough, measles and polio.

Untruths Uncovered

Some people believe that vaccine-preventable diseases have been eliminated from the United States, so children no longer need to be vaccinated. This is untrue. Although vaccinations have reduced some diseases to rare occurrences in the United States, many of the viruses and bacteria are still circulating in other parts of the world. Travelers and immigrants unknowingly bring diseases into our country every day. Without proper immunization, the diseases could quickly spread throughout the U.S. population, potentially causing an epidemic.

Other people fear that getting vaccinated will cause harmful side effects, illnesses and even death. The risks of serious disease from not being vaccinated far outweigh the risks of serious reaction to a vaccination. Most adverse effects are minor and temporary, such as a mild fever, rash or sore arm, and can be treated by taking acetaminophen before or after vaccination. According to the CDC, more serious adverse reactions are rare, occurring once in thousands to millions of doses.

Disabling the Diseases

Without childhood immunizations, the following diseases could be unleashed: measles, mumps, polio, rubella (German measles), pertussis (whooping cough), diptheria, tetanus (lockjaw), haemophilus infleunzae type b (Hib disease, a major cause of bacterial meningitis), hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox) and pneumococcal disease (a cause of bacterial meningitis and blood infections).

The CDC recommends the following vaccinations by the time your child is 2 years old:

* four doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTaP)

* four doses of Hib vaccine

* three doses of polio vaccine

* three doses of hepatitis B vaccine

* three doses of pneumococcal vaccine

* one dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR)

* one dose of varicella vaccine

In addition, there are vaccines required before your child enters school and throughout childhood. Your pediatrician should keep you informed of necessary immunizations.

For More Information

Proper immunization is necessary to protect ourselves and the people around us. To learn more, or to ensure your child's immunizations are up-to-date, contact your physician.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com