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World Immunization Week good time to look at vaccination

Lopez

World Immunization Week, April 23- 30, 2015, signals a renewed global effort to increase our knowledge of and access to vaccines.

What is immunization? It is a process in which a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against the infection or disease. Immunization is estimated to save between 2 million to 3 million lives worldwide each year.

Let’s explore some of the myths – and facts – about vaccination.

Myth: Better hygiene and sanitation will make diseases disappear – vaccines are not necessary. FALSE

Fact: The diseases we can vaccinate against will return if we stop vaccination programs. While hand-washing and clean water help protect people from infectious diseases, many infections can spread regardless of how clean we are. If people are not vaccinated, uncommon diseases, such as polio and measles, will quickly reappear.

Myth: Vaccines have damaging and long-term side effects. FALSE

Fact: Vaccines are very safe. Most vaccine reactions are usually minor and temporary, such as a sore arm or mild fever. Very serious health events are extremely rare and are carefully monitored and investigated. Your child is far more likely to be seriously injured by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine, for example, paralysis from polio or encephalitis and blindness from measles. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can be fatal.

Myth: Vaccine-preventable diseases are almost eradicated in the U.S., so there is no reason to be vaccinated. FALSE

Fact: Although vaccine-preventable diseases have become uncommon, the infectious agents that cause them continue to circulate. These germs can cross borders and infect anyone who is not protected, as has been demonstrated by recent measles and pertussis outbreaks.

Myth: Vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses are just an unfortunate fact of life. FALSE

Fact: Vaccine-preventable diseases do not have to be “facts of life.” These illnesses are serious and can lead to severe complications in both children and adults, including pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, diarrhea, ear infections, congenital rubella syndrome (if a woman becomes infected with rubella in early pregnancy) and death. All of these diseases and suffering can be prevented with vaccines. Failure to vaccinate against these diseases leaves children unnecessarily vulnerable.

Myth: It is better to be immunized through disease than through vaccines. FALSE

Fact: Vaccines interact with the immune system to produce an immune response similar to that produced by the natural infection, but they do not cause the disease or put the immunized person at risk of its potential complications. In contrast, the price paid for getting immunity through natural infection might be brain damage from H influenzae (Hib), birth defects from rubella, liver cancer from hepatitis B virus or death from measles.

In addition to the diseases for which vaccines have been long available, children now can be protected against pneumonia and rotaviral diarrhea, two leading causes of death in young children. Adolescents can be protected against life-threatening diseases such as influenza, meningitis and cancer (cervical and liver) because of new vaccines.

World Immunization Week provides a timely opportunity to review your children’s and your own records and make sure they are current. Be aware that schools now are requiring a booster dose, or two-dose series of varicella/chicken pox vaccine for fall enrollment in 2015.

As a preventive service, vaccines now are covered by all insurances and Medicaid, with no out-of-pocket cost. They are readily available from most primary-care offices as well as the School Based Health Centers at Durango High and Florida Mesa Elementary schools, Community Clinics and local health departments.

Please immunize, and do not take unnecessary risks with your own and your children’s health.

Dr. Victor Lopez, MD, is the medical director for Axis Health System. He supervises clinical staff at Cortez, La Plata and two School-Based Integrated Healthcare clinics in Durango.



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