Five reasons to vaccinate your infant
Nicole Frei, MD
As April winds down, the warm weather ahead isn’t the only thing we should be thinking about. This week is National Infant Immunization Week, which is a great time to consider some of the benefits that come from vaccinating your infant, or to start a dialogue with your child’s health care provider.
Based on my experience as a pediatrician, and also from excellent resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outlined below are five reasons to vaccinate your infant.
Immunizations can save your child’s life. Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children have been eliminated completely, and others are close to extinction — primarily due to safe and effective vaccines.
One example of the great impact that vaccines can have is the elimination of polio in the United States. Polio was once America’s most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States.
Vaccination is very safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors and health care professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness or tenderness at the site of injection, but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent.
Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.
Immunization protects others you care about. Children in the U.S. still get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, we have seen resurgences of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years. In 2010, the U.S. had more than 21,000 cases of whooping cough reported and 26 deaths, most in children younger than 6 months.
To help keep those who cannot be vaccinated safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to others in the community.
Immunizations can save your family time and money. A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or daycare facilities. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care. In contrast, getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance. For those without insurance coverage, the Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines at no cost.
Immunization protects future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide. Your children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists.
By vaccinating children against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States. If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.
For more information about the importance of infant immunization, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
Nicole Frei, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician practicing at IHA Pediatric Healthcare - Arbor Park. Dr. Frei has special interest in growth, development, and caring for children with special needs. IHA Pediatric Healthcare - Arbor Park is located at 4936 W. Clark Road, Suite 101, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Dr. Frei can be reached at 734-434-3000. For more information or to read more posts on the IHA blog please visit www.ihacares.com.
Comments
Technojunkie
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
If the infant has a healthy immune system to begin with, maybe. It's risky enough given that the immune system and blood-brain barrier aren't fully in place until 3-4 years. But kids who are born mercury toxic, the top two risk factors being high intelligence and northern European ancestry, are at high risk for vaccine reactions due to their compromised immune systems. A simple hair test will screen for heavy metals. Andrew Cutler's approach is the safest I've found. Giving hep B vaccines to newborns is insane. The standard vaccine schedule is far too aggressive. At the very least prioritize, delay and spread out vaccinations. And don't give Tylenol with vaccinations (why is a fever reducer needed if vaccines are so safe?), it compromises the liver's ability to metabolize vaccine ingredients such as the toxic aluminum-based adjuvants used to boost immune system reaction so that less real vaccine is needed. Unfortunately, until the medical industry decides to deal with the issue of vaccine risk honestly and not lie to us for the "greater good" many parents are going to avoid vaccination entirely, with all the potential consequences that entails.
Renee S.
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.
Hep B is commonly transmitted at birth. A vaccination given at birth can prevent the baby from becoming infected with hep B; this is why it is done. My ex boyfriend and his two brother all have Hepatitis B, which they got from their mother before a vaccine was available. My ex is now on daily anti-retrovirals, the same powerful drugs they give to people who are HIV+. He can't drink alcohol and will likely die relatively young of liver failure or cancer. His chance at a normal sex life is inhibited because Hep B is a sexually transmitted disease. And you think it's "insane" to give Hep B vaccines to newborns? I'm sure his mother would have given anything to not pass on this disease to her three sons.