Sadly, approximately millions of people die each year of vaccine-preventable diseases. On the other hand, immunization saves close to 3 million lives a year. Imagine how many more lives could be saved if more people were protected against potentially deadly diseases.
World Immunization Week, which takes place April 24th through 30th, aims to make this a reality. During that week, many will strive to generate increased awareness of the benefits of full immunization starting from childhood. In the end, though, it’s up to parents to take action. What are the benefits of doing so?
Why Get Immunizations?
1. Vaccinations Protect Your Child
Children especially come into contact with billions of germs each day from a variety of different sources. Failing to get them vaccinated is like playing Russian Roulette with their health. It can leave them open to serious illness, along with possible complications such as amputation, convulsions, brain damage or worse. Of course, you don’t want your precious young one to experience any of that.
The thing is…the people around you and your child don’t want to experience it either. Hence, the second reason.
2. Vaccinations Protect the Health of Others
When you take measures to stop your child from coming down with dangerous illnesses, you protect others including yourself. Getting your child vaccinated is a loving and respectful thing to do. Especially since some people are more susceptible to getting sick than others.
Think of young children who aren’t yet able to receive certain vaccines or those with weakened immune systems due to illnesses such as cancer. If such individuals do not have the defenses to fight off disease in the first place, it stands to reason that their bodies would struggle and perhaps fail to overcome even a vaccine-preventable disease.
Surely, you wouldn’t want to be responsible for anyone else falling seriously ill. That raises the questions: Against what does your kid need to immunized to prevent this?
“How Can I Protect My Child?”
There are at least 15 essential immunizations a child should receive from birth to 18 years of age, many of which include several rounds of vaccination. You can keep your child in good health by ensuring that they receive the following immunizations according to the recommended schedule.
- Hepatitis A & B
- Rotavirus
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
- Polio
- Measles, mumps, and rubella
- HPV
- Pneumococcal conjugate
- Meningococcal B
Being immunized from the start will allow your little ones to enjoy childhood to the fullest without serious illness or the long-term consequences that can come from it.
Young ones aren’t the only ones who need to be immunized, though.
“What Vaccinations Do I Need as an Adult?”
The appropriate adult immunizations will depend on your age, health status, travel habits and other factors that increase your risk for certain illnesses. You may want to consult your doctor regarding the following:
- Tetanus
- Shingles
- Hepatitis A & B
- HPV
- Any others that your doctor may recommend based on his/her assessment
Contribute to a Safe Community
By keeping up-to-date on yours and children’s vaccinations, you not only protect your family but also all in your community. Surely, you would like them to do what they can to safeguard you, so why not start the cycle of caring.
Then, encourage others in whatever ways you can—through social media, word-of-mouth, flyers, etc.—to hop on the bandwagon. The more people who do, the safer the world will be.