Immunizations are one good way to protect your child’s health.  They prepare the body to fight illness.  And it’s always better to prevent a disease, that to treat it.

Sandra Villareal takes her granddaughter Gabriela to get her immunizations on a regular basis.  “So I can make sure that she always has her shots on time.  And she never gets behind on them. So she won’t get sick.”

While it can be difficult to watch your little one getting a shot, vaccines can help prevent the flu, measles, chicken pox, hepatitis B, and a number of other illness.

Dr. Gamdur Brar of Valley Pediatrics in Madera points out, immunizations can protect children against contagious, disabling and sometimes deadly diseases.  “There are a number of diseases which have very serious consequences in the natural course.  But with a vaccination those are altogether prevented.  People forgot about Polio, how devastating Polio was.”

POLIO VACCINE CASES
Before the 1950’s - 13,000 to 20,000
2000 - None
Source:  American Academy of Pediatrics

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, before the Polio Vaccine was available in the 1950’s, thirteen to twenty thousand cases were reported each year in the United States.  By the year 2000, none were reported.

Vaccines help prepare the body to fight disease by using small amounts of a killed or weakened micro-organism that causes the particular disease.  Dr. Brar says, “The vaccination stimulates your own immune system to make protection against infection, particular infection.”

Vaccinations cause the immune system to react as though there were a real infection.  It then fights the infection and remembers the organism so that it can fight it if it enters the body later on.

IMMUNITY FROM MOM
Before birth - placenta
After Birth – breast milk
Protection is temporary

Infants do get some immunity from their mothers, but the protection is only temporary.  Dr. Brar says, “Some pre-formed immunity from the mother is transferred late in third trimester through the placenta as well as through the breast milk.  But that immunity is not long lasting.”
While some parents may worry that there may be a connection between the Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine and Autism.    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that studies show there is no relationship between the two.

Vaccines are not 100-percent effective.   An immunization can give the disease it was supposed to prevent.  But without them, Dr Brar says you leave your child vulnerable.  “Yes, it can happen.  Especially like flu, which is a weakened germ.  But the disease produced in that case is a lot less severe compared to the actual infection.”

The bulk of your child’s vaccinations happen primarily in the first year.  Most are finished by the time he or she is six years old.  Not only is it important for parents to make sure their child is immunized.  Well Child checkups are crucial in the early years.  They ensure that a child gets consistent medical attention, a good way to prevent injury and illness.

Immunizations are discussed and given, if appropriate, during the checkups.  But as Dr. Brar explains, there is a lot more to them.  “A child gets a full physical exam.  His immunization status is assessed.  We review child’s growth and development with the mother.”

It allows the parent or guardian to become acquainted with a regular health care provider.
Sandra says Gabriela has been seeing Dr. Brar since she was born.  “He’s real good with the children, he communicates with the children, keeps them happy too.”

Web Resources for parents

Immunization Scheduler / American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.cispimmunize.org/IZSchedule_Childhood.pdf

Medical Home / American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/medicalhomeov.cfm

Immunization Information for Families / American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/fam_main.html

Newspaper Article in Baltimore Sun about Immunizations and Autism
www.baltimoresun.com

Fact Sheet on Vaccines and Child Health / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/news/facts/20050720.html

Why Immunize? / American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org

Polio Anniversary
http://www.cispimmunize.org/ill/ill_main.html

CDC Booklet introducing parents to the 14 childhood diseases and the 10 vaccines that can protect children from them.
http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/fam_main.html