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National Infant Immunization Week is April 19 - 26Childhood Immunization Facts |
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National Infant Immunization Week is April 19 - 26Childhood Immunization Facts |
WHY ARE CHILDREN UNDER-IMMUNIZED?
SEVEN REASONS PARENTS GIVE FOR NOT TAKING CHILDREN FOR THEIR SHOTS
11 REASONS TO VACCINATE BY AGE 2
WHAT VACCINATIONS BABIES NEED BY AGE 2
TIPS FOR PARENTS ABOUT YOUR BABY'S SHOTS
CHICKENPOX: IT'S MORE SERIOUS THAN YOU THINK
MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Immunization is one of the most effective ways of preventing disease. The level of vaccine-preventable disease has been reduced by more than 99 percent since the introduction of vaccines. Reported cases of vaccine-preventable diseases are at, or near, all-time-low levels.
Prior to widespread immunization in the United States, infectious diseases killed or disabled thousands of children each year. Tens of thousands of cases of paralytic polio and an average of 450,000 measles cases were reported annually.
The measles epidemic of 1989-91 affected more than 55,000 people; 11,000 were hospitalized and more than 120 died. A major cause of the measles epidemic was the failure to vaccinate children on time at 12 to 15 months of age.
The World Health Organization declared the Americas free of polio on 1994. Reported cases have declined by more than 80 percent globally since 1988. These extraordinary results are the direct effect of immunizations against polio.
Childhood illnesses that could be prevented by immunization are still with us. Approximately 3.5 million cases of Varicella (chickenpox) occur each year. This rate is expected to decrease with the introduction of the new vaccine.
A vaccine H. influenza type b (Hib) decreased the incidence of Hib meningitis 82 percent between 1985 and 1991.
In the 1920s, about 125,000 cases and 10,000 deaths were caused b diphtheria each year. In the 1980s, 27 cases were reported, including three fatal cases.
Children need 80 percent of their vaccinations in the first 2 years of life. This requires multiple doses of vaccine given in about five visits to a health care provider.
The year 2000 goal of the Childhood Immunization Initiative is to have at least 90 percent of all children immunized by 2 years of age with the recommended vaccine series. This series includes four doses of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP) vaccine, three doses of polio vaccine, and one dose of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine.
In 1994, 75 percent of the nation's 2-year-olds received the recommended series of vaccines--the highest level ever recorded. Despite this success, about 25 percent of America's toddlers--or almost 1.4 million 2-year-olds--lack one or more doses of this series.
A second goal is to have 70 percent of children immunized with the more recently introduced vaccines: hepatitis B, H. influenzae type b (Hib), and Varicella (chickenpox).
All 50 States and the District of Columbia have immunization requirements for children entering day care and school. There are no such laws ensuring that children are up to date on their shots by age 2.
Children who begin the immunization series late are much less likely to complete the series on time than other children. Children who have not received any doses of vaccines by 3 months of age are one-third less likely to immunized than children who did.
Immunization is one of the most cost-effective medical interventions available. For every dollar spent on immunization, as many as $29 can be saved in direct and indirect costs.
For every dollar spent on the measles/mumps/rubella vaccine, $21 are saved.
For ever dollar spent on the diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine, $29 are saved.
For every dollar spent on the polio vaccine, $6 are saved.
No single factor accounts for under immunization, but various risk factors have been identified, including low parental education levels, large family size, low socioeconomic status, nonwhite race, young parental age, use of public clinics, and lack of prenatal care.
Inadequate access to medical care, deficiencies, in the public health care delivery system, and lack of public awareness are other factors contributing to under immunization.
Some children miss immunizations because their records are misplaced and parents and providers are not aware of which vaccinations the child has had. Some States (like Michigan) have instituted computerized immunization records that will ensure that all children's records are up to date and complete, even if they move or change health care providers.
Opportunities to vaccinate children may be missed because providers are misinformed about contraindications or are unwilling to give more than two vaccines during the same visit.
Sometimes parents and care givers of children are concerned about the safety of vaccines. A person may find much conflicting information on whether to immunize or not, much of which is not based on sound science. Here is a web site with information on what has happened to "unprotected people" in their own words or the words of their loved ones. http://www.immunize.org Here you will find many stories as well as other information that may be helpful for you.
General guidelines for immunizations in the first 2 years of life are as follows. Health care providers determine the best schedule for each child.
Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP): Four vaccinations--at 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 18 months.
Polio: Three vaccinations--at 2, 4, and 6 to 18 months.
Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR): One vaccination--at 12 to 15 months.
Chickenpox: One vaccination--at 12 to 18 months.
Hepatitis B: Three vaccinations--at 0 to 2 months, 1 to 4 months, and 6 to 18 months.
H. influenzae type b (HIB): Three or four vaccinations--at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months.
Catch-up vaccinations can be given if the child did not get the vaccinations at the recommended times. But delays in starting immunization result in less protection against disease.
In most cases, multiple vaccines can be given without increasing the risk of adverse effects or decreasing the effectiveness of the vaccines.
To see the schedules, please click here.
1. My baby is healthy. There's not reason to take him/her
to the doctor.
Just because your baby is healthy now does not mean he or she won't get childhood
diseases. Only immunizations can prevent diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, and
diphtheria. Some of these diseases can be a serious threat to your baby.
2. My baby won't get the measles. Nobody gets it anymore.
Failure to immunize leads to new outbreaks of disease. In 1989-91, a measles epidemic
resulted in more than 55,000 reported cases, 11,000 hospitalizations, and more than 120
deaths. Half o these deaths were in young children.
3. Childhood diseases aren't serious.
Vaccine-preventable disease are potentially fatal. Tetanus kills 3 of 10 people it
strikes. Diphtheria kills 1 of 10. Polio, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella (German
measles), hepatitis B, and spinal meningitis are also deadly but preventable.
4. I can't take the time off work to take my baby to the
doctor.
Taking the time now immunize your children can save you much more time later if your child
becomes ill. Childhood illnesses such as measles can put a child in bed for weeks--or even
in the hospital.
5. I can't afford to go to the doctor.
Most private and public health plans pay for childhood immunizations. If you have no
regular health care provider, call The Marquette County Health Department (906) 475-7844
to make an appointment to get life-protecting shots.
Vaccines save money in the long run.
A child with a preventable disease can cost parents 30 times more than the vaccine.
For every $1 spent on childhood vaccines, an average of $10 to $14 is saved in future medical care.
6. I'll take them for shots when they're old enough for school.
Children need 80 percent of their vaccines by the age of 2. Nearly one of the four of America's 2-year-olds lack one or more recommended vaccinations.
Most schools will not accept children who do not have all their shots. Save trouble later by keeping your infants and toddlers up to date on their shots.
7. My doctor didn't tell me my baby needed shots.
It's up to you to make sure your child is protected. Your doctor may forget to discuss
shots with you. Keep a record of your child's shots in a safe place. Bring it with you to
every health care visit. Ask your doctor or other health care provider to look at the
record and tell you if your baby needs shots.
If shots are needed at a later date, write it down. Make an appointment, and be sure to keep it.
Except where noted, these diseases spread when viruses or bacteria pass from an infected person to the nose or throat of others.
1. Diphtheria. This serious disease is spread by a bacterium. Diphtheria can block the airway, making it impossible to breathe. It can also cause heart problems. of 100 people who get diphtheria, 5 to 10 die.
2. Tetanus (lockjaw). Tetanus is caused by a toxin (poison) produced by a bacteria that enters the body through a cut or wound. Tetanus causes serious, painful spasms of all muscles and can lead to "locking" of the jaw so a person cannot open his or her mouth, swallow, or breath. Three of 10 people who get tetanus die.
3. Pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis is caused by a bacterium. It can cause spells of violent coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe, drink, or eat. The cough can last for weeks. Pertussis is most serious for babies, who can get pneumonia, have seizures, become brain damaged, or even die. About half of the babies who pet pertussis have to go to the hospital.
4. Polio. Polio is caused by a virus that is spread by contact with the feces (bowel movement) of an infected person. Symptoms can include sudden fever, sore throat, headache, muscle weakness, and pain. Polio can cause paralysis and death.
5. Measles. The measles virus is spread very easily. Even being in the same room with a person with measles is enough to catch the disease. Symptoms include a rash, fever, cough, and watery eyes. Measles can also cause pneumonia, brain damage, seizures, or death. Of every 1,000 children who get measles, 1 or 2 will die.
6. Mumps. The mumps virus causes fever, headaches, and swollen salivary glands under the jaw. One of every 19 children who get mumps may develop mild meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord) and sometimes encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Mumps can also result in permanent hearing loss.
7. Rubella (German measles). The rubella virus usually causes a mild sickness with fever, swollen glands, and a rash that lasts for about 3 days. But if a pregnant women gets rubella, she can lose her unborn baby, or the baby can be born blind, deaf, or mentally retarded or with heart defects or other serious problems.
8. Hib Meningitis. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) virus causes meningitis. It can also cause pneumonia and infection of the blood, joints, bone, throat, and heart covering. This disease is very serious for children younger than age 5, especially infants.
9. Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. It spreads through contact with blood or other body fluids. This can happen through sexual contact or by sharing a razor, toothbrush. or needles used to inject drugs. Hepatitis B causes a flu-like illness with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, rashes, joint pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin). An infected pregnant woman can expose her newborn to this virus during birth. The virus stays in the liver of some people for the rest of their lives. Later, they can develop severe liver diseases or cancer.
10. Varicella (chickenpox). The Varicella virus usually causes a rash, itching, tiredness, and fever, It can lead pneumonia, brain infection, or death. Complications occur most often in very young children, adults, or people with damaged immune systems.
WHAT VACCINATIONS BABIES NEED BY AGE 2
Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP): Four vaccinations--at 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 18 months.
Polio: three vaccinations--at 2, 4, and 6 to 18 months.
Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR): one vaccination--at 12 to 15 months.
H. influenzae type b (Hib): three or four vaccinations--at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months.
Hepatitis B: three vaccinations--at 0 to 2 months, 1 to 4 months, and 6 to 18 months.
Varicella (Chickenpox): one vaccination--at 12 to 18 months
The full series of vaccinations can be given in five visits to a doctor or clinic.
Babies need vaccinations or "shots" to protect
against 11 dangerous diseases, such as measles and polio. Each year, children who are not
fully protected against these diseases become sick and some die.
You can protect your babies by taking them to a doctor/health care provider or clinic for their shots. Babies need seven different kinds of shots by the time they are 2 years old. Some of the shots are given a few times. This will take about five visits to the doctor or clinic.
Don't Miss the Chance to Protect Your Baby
Don't wait till your baby gets sick. Take the baby to a doctor or clinic for shots. your baby should get the first vaccination at birth.
At each visit, discuss immunization with your doctor. Ask whether your baby is up to date.
You will be given a card that lists the shots your baby gets. Keep this record in a safe place. Bring it with you every time you take your baby to the doctor or clinic.
Ask the doctor/health care provider when to come again. Write it down. Make an appointment.
If you do not have a doctor/health care provider, call The Marquette County Health Department (906) 475-7844 for make your immunization appointment.
If your baby misses some shots, it may be possible to catch up. But if you wait too long, the protection will not be as strong.
YOU GAVE THEM LIFE. PROTECT IT.
Many adults remember the itchy spots of chickenpox (Varicella) they had as children. They think that Varicella is a mild illness and one that does not need to be prevented through vaccination. They wonder why children are not allowed to acquire natural infection. Even some health care providers are not convinced.
But chickenpox can be dangerous and even deadly. Before the introduction of the Varicella vaccine in 1995, approximately 4 million cases of the disease were reported annually, including 4,000 to 9,000 hospitalizations and 100 deaths. While Varicella is the greatest vaccine-preventable killer of children in the United States, only 26 percent of children ages 19 to 35 months old had received Varicella vaccine by 1997.
Ninety percent of all Varicella cases and approximately 60 percent of hospitalizations and 40 percent of deaths due to Varicella occur in children younger than age 10. Today, the greatest incidence of Varicella has shifted to younger children (ages 1 to 4, rather than ages 5 to 9), probably because of earlier exposure in preschool and child care settings.
In the first 3 months of 1998, three fatal cases of Varicella in children were reported. All three children were unvaccinated. Failing to vaccinate young children for Varicella is also a threat to adults who lack immunity. In 1997, three fatal cases of Varicella in young adult women were reported. All three women had not been vaccinated for Varicella and were infected by exposure to unvaccinated preschool-age children with the disease. Although fewer than 5 percent of cases of Varicella occur in adults ages 20 and older, 55 percent of Varicella-related deaths occur in this age group.
Studies have shown that the Varicella vaccine is 85 percent effective in preventing disease. If a vaccinated person gets Varicella, it is usually a very mild disease. The recommended strategy is to vaccinate children routinely at age 12 to 18 months and to provide "catch-up" vaccinations for older children, adolescents, and adults who have not been vaccinated. Studies show that immunity persists for more than 20 years after vaccination.
Furthermore, vaccination for Varicella saves money. Cost studies indicate that $5.40 is saved for every $1 spent on Varicella vaccination in children. This includes direct medical costs of Varicella as well as the cost to society when children miss school and caregivers miss work to care for their sick children.
What is meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is a serious illness, caused by a bacteria. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2 - 18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings. Meningococcal disease can also cause blood infections.
About 2,600 people get meningococcal disease each year in the U.S. 10 - 15% of these people die, in spite of treatment with antibiotics. Of those who live, another 10% lose their arms or lets, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become mentally retarded, or suffer seizures or strokes.
Anyone can get meningococcal disease. But it is most common in infants less than one year of age, and in people with certain medical conditions. College freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories, have a slightly increased risk of getting meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal vaccine can prevent 2 of the 3 important types of meningococcal disease in older children and adults. Meningococcal vaccine is not effective in preventing all types of the disease. But it does help to protect many people who might become sick if they don't get the vaccine.
Drugs such as penicillin can be used to treat meningococcal infection. Still, about 1 out of every ten people who get the disease dies from it, and many others are affected for life. This is why it is important that people with the highest risk for meningococcal disease get the vaccine.
Last UPdate: 12 March 2008