Protect Back-To-School Children  With Proper Immunizations

NORTH HAVEN — To parents, back-to-school time usually means shopping for new clothes, buying their children’s school supplies, and preparing for the pending hustle and bustle of early morning routines. But it should also mean getting their children properly vaccinated.

The reality is that, despite recent gains in childhood immunization coverage, misconceptions about immunizations often keep parents from understanding their safety and value.

“All too often, we take for granted the remarkable preventive health options at our disposal, or forget that only a few generations ago children weren’t immunized against life-threatening diseases,” said Eleanor Seiler, MD, senior medical director of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Connecticut operations.

“Although our nation’s immunization program has saved the lives of millions of people, we still have significant more work to do. Each day, 11,000 babies are born who will need to be immunized against 11 diseases before the age of 2,” she said.

Dr Seiler recommends that parents check with their children’s physician, pediatrician, or school nurse not only to find out what immunizations are required by law before entering school, but also to get additional information about those immunizations and their benefits.

“Don’t let misinformation keep you from protecting your children,” Dr Seiler said. “Vaccines are among the 20th Century’s most successful and cost-effective public health tools for preventing disease and death. High immunization coverage levels translate into record or near-record low levels of vaccine-preventable diseases — and better health for our children and our communities.”

Dr Seiler offers the following facts about immunizations:

Vaccines are safe. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in its history. Vaccines undergo years of testing before they can be licensed, and they are continually monitored for safety.

Vaccines are effective. In most cases, vaccines are highly effective. They usually cause no side effects, or only mild reactions such as fever or soreness at the injection site.

Vaccines are still necessary. In other parts of the world, millions of children die because of diseases from which Americans are protected. Measles, for example, will kill one of every 1,000 children who contract it. But with the use of vaccines, very few cases of measles are seen today in the United States. Other diseases prevented by vaccines include pneumonia, meningitis, bloodstream infections, mumps, hepatitis B, and polio.

“Once parents know the truth, immunizations are the only sensible choice,” said Dr Seiler. “We urge parents to work with their child’s doctor to stay on schedule with these life-saving measures.”

For more information regarding immunizations, check these websites:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/nip

State of Connecticut at www.dph.state.ct.us/BCH/infectiousdise/cirts.html, go to “Health Topics” and click on “Immunizations”

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield at www.anthem.com, select state, click on “My Health @ Anthem,” and search for “Immunizations.”