The Importance of Childhood Vaccines

The health of the child is the most important thing for any parent. Protecting the child and providing anything and everything to keep the child hale and hearty is the best thing a parent can do. As a parent, one may not like the child to go through the prick of the injection but that single prick can protect the child from a number of serious and fatal diseases. And not all vaccinations are delivered by an injection. Below are some reasons why vaccinations are important for children.

Vaccinations can save lives

Polio was one of the most deadly diseases in the US long time ago and now it has been fully eradicated only because of vaccination. It is one of the classic examples to show how vaccines could help in the eradication of polio and saving the lives of many children in the US. Thanks to the advanced medical technologies and research, vaccinations can keep the child protected from numerous diseases as compared to the old days.

Vaccination can protect people around

A child who is not vaccinated is always at a risk for infections and can pass on diseases to other people around him/her. Just a hug or traveling together can put the people around the unvaccinated child in serious risks. So it is the social responsibility of the parent to vaccinate the child before he/she spreads the infection and in turn protects the society from diseases.

Vaccinations are safe

Some parents believe that vaccinations can overload and weaken the immune system which is actually not true. Vaccines are very safe and clinically proven that they only help the child’s immune system do its job. There can be small side effects once the child is vaccinated like a low-grade fever, pain, and discomfort that are milder compared to the side effects of the diseases that the vaccine can prevent. All vaccines undergo a long and careful research procedure by scientists, doctors, and the government to make sure they are safe for children.

How many shots

There are 12 serious diseases like Rubella ,Measles, Diphtheria, Mumps, Tetanus, Polio, Whooping Cough, Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib Disease) , Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Chickenpox, and Pneumococcal disease that the necessary vaccinations can prevent. So one shot is needed for each of these diseases, and some vaccinations come with multiple doses for better protection. It is important that the child is vaccinated on time so that the child is adequately protected at the early stages of the life.

Vaccines can save money and time

One needs to realize that vaccine shots are a one time expense. It is always better to spend money on the vaccine rather than paying hefty medical bills after the child has contracted the disease. Some diseases may need prolonged treatment, and the child would end up spending more time only in hospitals. This might affect the child’s education and the precious time of the childhood is lost. Since insurance covers most of the vaccinations, it is better to vaccinate the child. Ultimately “Prevention is better than cure”.

It is ideal to visit hospitals like Phoenix Family Medical Clinic who participate in the Vaccines for Children program offered through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The clinic has all the facilities for vaccination. They also provide an immunization schedule and in case the child has missed any shots, they can opt for a catch-up schedule.

• Prev
• Next