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Vaccinating Infants Is Part Of Responsible, Loving Care The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) reminds parents that vaccination against communicable diseases such as measles, mumps and whooping cough is the most effective method you have for protecting your children and preventing sickness and death caused by these diseases. For most vaccine-preventable diseases, illness has been reduced by 99% or more since the introduction of vaccines. The success of vaccination programs is due to advancements in medical research, diligent work by doctors, re-searchers and public health officials, and by parents and other caregivers who make sure children get immuni-zations. Immunizations not only help protect those receiving the vaccinations from developing potentially serious diseases, but also help protect en-tire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious agents. Viruses and bacteria that cause once common childhood diseases are still circulating, either at low levels in the United States or elsewhere in the world. Those not circulating in this country are only a plane ride away and are continuously reintroduced to this country by travelers. If immunization rates are allowed to fall, disease rates will likely start rising. Twelve Preventable Diseases Parents and other caregivers have a special responsibility to keep informed of the recommended vaccinations for their children, to make sure children get the required shots and to keep a record of all immunizations. Even if you think your child is up to date on immunizations, you should ask your child’s doctor about immunization at every visit. Recommended childhood immunization schedules for New York State children can be viewed on the website of the New York State Depart-ment of Health at http://www. health. state.ny.us/nysdoh/immun/ pdf/2378.pdf. The week of April 24 to May 1 has been declared National Infant Immuni-zation Week. This annual effort promotes the benefits of immunizations in improving the health of children two years old and younger, although these benefits extend to others as well. The theme of this year’s observance of National Infant Immunization Week is "Vaccination: An Act of Love. Love them. Protect them. Immunize them." As part of the 10th anniversary observance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention foresees a world where every child has access to safe and ef-fective vaccines and where no one suffers or dies from a disease easily prevented through vaccination. Children need a series of vaccinations, starting at birth, to be fully protected against 12 potentially serious diseases. Vaccinations are recommend-ed for everyone against 11 of these diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus in-fluenzae type b (Hib), polio, pneumonia, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis B. In addition, children in selected regions of the country should receive vaccinations against hepatitis A. Each day, 11,000 babies are born in the United States who will need to be immunized against these 12 diseases by the time they are two years old. Immunization Is Safe, Effective and Reassuring Immunization is an extraordinarily safe method of assuring your child’s freedom from these 12 infectious but preventable diseases. Although no vaccine is 100% safe, serious adverse reactions to vaccination are extremely rare. Children are far more likely to be harmed by serious infectious diseases than by vaccination. Children who are not immunized against these diseases also increase the chances that others will get the diseases. Remember, a decision to vaccinate is a decision to protect not only your child, but the entire community as well. A decision not to vaccinate is a decision to put the community at risk. When immunization rates are high, the likelihood that an infected individual will transmit disease to a susceptible individual is greatly reduced. This creates indirect protection. Those in-directly protected include children who may be too young to be vaccinated but who are still susceptible to the disease, such as children under the age of one year who are too young to receive the measles vaccine. Also protected are children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, such as children with leukemia. For additional information, including a Recommended Childhood Im-munization, go the website at http:// www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/immun/immunization.htm. or call the Cen-ters for Disease Control and Preven-tion immunization hotline at 800-232-2522 (English) or 800-232-0233 (Espanol).
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