The Importance of Vaccines

When it comes to protecting your children, parents will do just about anything. From car seats to baby gates, there have been plenty of inventions and innovations that allow you as parents to better keep their child safe. One extremely important and highly effective measure many parents can and should take is vaccinations. Vaccines can do so much more than car seats and baby gates when it comes to the health of your child.

Vaccines protect your child from dangers that we cannot see with the naked eye. Some of the diseases vaccines protect against can cause serious illness, disability, or even death in young children. However, many seem to believe that vaccines are more harmful than good. There are misconceptions and beliefs that vaccines cause conditions like autism, but a massive new study from Denmark found no connection between vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella to autism. The study involved over 600,000 Danish children born over a 20-year span which should bolster just how effective and safe vaccines are.

Here are a few reasons why vaccines are so important to your child’s health:

Vaccinations Save Lives: In decades past, the diseases that are now preventable with the help of immunizations once severely injured or took the lives of thousands of children. Many of these diseases have been eliminated completely or are close to extinction. Polio was once one of the most feared illnesses in the whole country. Now, there are no reports of polio in the U.S. thanks to vaccines.

Not All Vaccine-Preventable Diseases are Gone: While yes, many diseases have been eliminated entirely, there are still some out there that pose a real danger to children. There are still cases of measles in the U.S. being reported, albeit still minimal all things considered. However, while there might not be frequent reports in America, many countries around the world do not have the luxury of having such powerful vaccines. For those unvaccinated traveling around the world, they can easily contract the virus and bring it to the states and spread it.

Vaccines are Safe and Effective: Before vaccines are distributed, they are carefully tested and experimented on over a long period of time by scientists, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. These vaccines are extensively tested to evaluate any and all information to determine its effectiveness. They are some of the safest medical procedures available and can save you thousands of dollars. The only pain that will come with vaccines is during the initial administration of the vaccine with some experiencing minor discomfort and tenderness at the injection site.

Immunizations Protect Loved Ones: Getting vaccines yourself or for your younger children can actually help protect others you care about. Some babies are actually too young to get vaccinations, so it is important to make sure any other children in the house and yourselves are vaccinated to protect the baby. Others have allergies to certain vaccines or just weakened immune systems that prevent them from receiving immunizations. To help protect all of these individuals, it is important to make sure you and your children are up to date on all vaccines.

Saves You Time and Money: Vaccines may seem like a nuisance and a time-waster to some, but in the long run, they will save you and your family a great deal of time and money. Many vaccine-preventable diseases can take a large financial toll due to a loss of work, medical bills, and potential long-term disability care. Many schools and child care services will not admit a child who is not up to date on their vaccinations. Getting your child vaccinated can save you a great deal of time and money by preventing you and your child from missing any time from school or work.

Even though there still remains many who doubt the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, it has been proven time and time again how safe and effective they truly are. Here at Tots N Teens Pediatrics, we respect the concerns and wishes of all parents. We are willing to listen and answer all questions you may have regarding which vaccines we can offer your children.