If You Are Not Vaccinated You Are Not Ready For School, California Department Of Public Health Says

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Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Flu / Cold / SARS;  Public Health
Article Date: 11 Sep 2010 - 9:00 PST


As the new school year starts, California Department of Public Health's (CDPH's) director, Dr. Mark Horton, urges parents and caregivers to ensure that their kids are fully vaccinated. He also urges other groups, especially those who live or work around babies to be vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis).

3,834 illnesses and 8 deaths caused by whooping cough have been reported to health authorities in the state of California so far this year. Dr. Horton adds that current figures are the highest they have been for 52 years.

Whooping cough is a vaccine-preventable illness.

Horton said:

Immunization is one of the greatest health-related achievements in history. Each year thousands of Californian children and adults are protected from serious illnesses and even death because they were immunized. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox worldwide and polio in the United States, significantly reduced measles, diphtheria, rubella, bacterial meningitis, and a host of other diseases.

The California Department of Public Health reminds parents that kids entering kindergarten should be vaccinated against polio, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, measlues, mumps, rubella (German measles) and chickenpox.

Parents of adolescents need to remember that their children require their preteen booster shots.

According to CDPH's web site, most parents of very young children know which shots their kids need. This is not always the case with parents of older children - many don't know.

Terry Mock, a mother of two from Northern California, said:

I thought that I was done with vaccines when my kids reached kindergarten. I'm glad I was told my 11-year-old also needed shots against meningitis, HPV, flu, and pertussis. My kids could be exposed to a disease like pertussis in school. I want them to be protected.

Parents should check with their doctors regarding their children's shots and booster shots.

Some vaccine myths and facts (source: Dept. of Health, California):

• Myth: Many say the vaccines are not safe.
  Fact: Vaccines are safe, they are held to the highest standard of safety and undergo extensive testing before they are licensed.
• Myth: Vaccines cause autism.
  Fact: The whole scientific community around the world agree clearly that there is no link between vaccination and autism. Autism rates are the same in areas and whole countries which vaccinate and don't vaccinate.
• Myth: Multiple vaccines or combination vaccines given simultaneously are dangerous.
  Fact: Combination vaccines are extensively studied to make sure they are completely safe and effective before they are licensed.
• Myth: Vaccines have a lot of mercury (thimerosol).
  Fact: Thimerosal was removed from all childhood vaccines in 2001.
• Myth: Many vaccines we had as kids are no longer necessary.
  Fact: When vaccination rates drop, the diseases come back. Smallpox is the only disease we have eliminated and no longer need vaccines for.
• Myth: A holistic lifestyle protects us from disease by boosting our immune systems.
  Fact: A healthy lifestyle is definitely good for health and highly recommended. However, in order to prevent epidemics, outbreaks of disease, illnesses, complications and some deaths, nothing protects a whole community or society as well as vaccinations.
• Myth: Having a flu vaccine can give me the flu.
  Fact: The flu shot (vaccine) has no "live" virus, so it cannot infect you and give you flu. Even the nasal spray flu vaccines, which does include a form of the virus, has it in such a weakened form that the risk of developing the flu are extremely remote.

Source: California Department of Public Health

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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