Video available
Newswise — Polio, diphtheria, mumps, and German measles " all life-threatening diseases that have been virtually eradicated through the use of vaccines.
Despite life-saving immunization programs, some children still are not getting vaccinated according to the recommended schedule, putting themselves and their communities at risk.
Fortunately, there is a way for kids to catch-up on necessary vaccinations they may have missed, says Gary L. Freed, M.D., director of the Division of General Pediatrics at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's National Vaccine Advisory Committee.
"Even if a child's missed a scheduled vaccine, it doesn't mean there's not still time to get vaccinated," says Freed. "While children should stick with the recommended vaccine schedule, they can still receive vaccines as part of a 'catch up' schedule, which accelerates the period of time in which children can receive vaccines to bring them up to date."
According to national recommendations, the first vaccination should be given at birth. The first in the series, now given within the first 24 hours of life, is the hepatitis B vaccine. The move to give this vaccine at the start of life was done to protect children who are at risk for the disease, or could contract the disease, very early in life or during adolescence.
Following vaccinations given at birth, the recommended ages for children to receive vaccinations are at two months, four months, six months and 12 months, and often between 15 months and 18 months of age, Freed says. Booster shots typically begin around age 4 and continue through adolescence.
Additionally, new vaccines, including one to prevent meningococcal meningitis, are now available and being recommended for pre-teens and teenagers. But vaccinations don't end at adolescence. Even as we age, it's recommended that everyone continue to get a tetanus booster every 10 years.
Nationally, more than 80 percent of children are following the recommendations and getting their shots on time. However, there are still small groups of kids in the country who are failing to get the recommended vaccinations, which could spell big problems for children and their communities.
"When those small groups of children without proper vaccinations get larger, the risk for epidemics becomes greater," says Freed. "Although vaccines are very effective, they're not 100 percent effective against the germs or diseases they were designed to prevent. So when a child who hasn't been vaccinated contracts a disease like whooping cough, it is possible for him to spread that disease to other children he is in contact with, even if those children were vaccinated."
That's why it's so important for parents to make sure their children are vaccinated according to the recommended vaccine schedule, Freed says. The schedule was designed to vaccinate children during the times when diseases are most prevalent, when children are at the greatest risk for severe consequences, such as death, from exposure.
Programs also are in place to assist parents unable to afford vaccines for their children. Vaccines for Children, a federal program that began in the early 1990s, will pay for vaccines for uninsured children at private doctor's offices. And for children with insurance that doesn't cover vaccines, many states have programs in place to either get those children vaccinated at local health departments or through their health care provider.
Freed strongly encourages all parents to vaccinate their children. Scientific studies, he says, have overwhelmingly demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Most reactions to vaccines are minor and involve redness, swelling, and possibly an allergic reaction. If a child does have an unusual reaction following a vaccination, parents should contact their health care provider immediately to determine the cause.
"Ultimately, when parents decide not to vaccinate their children, they're not only placing their own child at risk, they're placing other children at risk as well," says Freed.
Facts about childhood vaccinations:"¢Nationally, more than 80 percent of children are following the recommended vaccine schedule and getting their shots on time."¢According to the childhood vaccination schedule, vaccinations take place at birth, two months, four months, six months and 12 months, and often between 15 months and 18 months of age. "¢Booster shots typically begin around age 4 and continue through adolescence. Tetanus shot should be given every 10 years throughout a person's lifetime. More vaccines also are becoming available to protect pre-teens and teenagers."¢Children who do not get vaccinated not only put themselves at risk for life-threatening diseases, but also children who have been vaccinated against the diseases."¢An accelerated vaccination schedule is available for children who did not receive vaccinations at the recommended ages.
For more information, visit these web sites:
U-M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Health Topics: Childhood Immunizationshttp://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/primry/prevnt02.htm
UMHS Department of Pediatrics: Still No Association Between MMR Vaccination and Neurological Disordershttp://www.med.umich.edu/pediatrics/ebm/cats/autism2.htm
UMHS Department of Pediatrics: Pneumococcal Vaccination May Be Cost-Effective for Healthy Infants and Childrenhttp://www.med.umich.edu/pediatrics/ebm/cats/pneumo.htm
National Network for Immunization Information " Parents Pagehttp://www.immunizationinfo.org/parents/index.cfm
Immunization Action Coalition's Vaccine Information http://www.vaccineinformation.org/
American Academy of Pediatrics: Childhood Immunization Support Programhttp://www.cispimmunize.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Ten Things You Need to Know About Immunizationshttp://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/fs/gen/shouldknow.htm
Parents Guide to Childhood Immunizationshttp://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/Parents-Guide/default.htm
RSS