April 21 – 28th is National Infant Immunization Week .
There are clashing opinions on whether or not to immunize children. There is so much objection that states have created Immunization Exemption Forms. Many experts have spoken out against vaccines. As a nurse with 34 years experience, a mother, and now a grandmother of four I have researched the pros and cons. Some diseases that are preventable are coming back because community members not becoming immunized and then carrying deadly diseases to vulnerable individuals.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is making a comeback. The CDC recently reported the highest number of cases in nearly 40 years. 4/24/12 Maricopa County Public Health announced the first recorded death of an infant from whooping cough since 2009. According to the county health department, almost 700 cases of pertussis – or whooping cough – were recorded in 2011, a 40 percent increase over the previous year. Health Department Director Bob England says not enough adults are up-to-date on their pertussis vaccinations. The child who recently died from whooping cough was too young to be vaccinated, and likely caught it from an adult. It is important that those in close contact with newborns are up-to-date on their pertussis vaccine. Hooping Cough may present as just a nagging cough in an adult, but could prove deadly to an infant.
Hooping cough is only one example of preventable diseases through vaccination. A new World Health Organization report shows that 8.8 million children world wide die before their fifth birthday – most deaths caused by preventable diseases.
As medicine and technology advances many more vaccines become available. It behooves every parent to carefully study the information and visit with their health care providers before making decisions on vaccinating their children. If a family chooses not to immunize they should consider and seek out other preventive measures to protect their children and the community at large.
Recommended Immunization Schedules:
Child Care Immunization Requirements
Newborn – Seven Immunization Schedule
