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One of the Most Important Things You Can Do for Your Child: Get Them Vaccinated!

Every spring, National Infant Immunization Week is observed to promote the benefits of childhood immunization. This year, it will be held April 23-30.

Since NIIW was established in 1994, communities throughout the United States have sponsored events for parents, guardians and care providers to support proper infant immunization. Early vaccination is encouraged against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. The vaccines come individually or in combinations.

All parents want to do what is best for their children. You know the importance of car seats, baby gates and other ways to keep them safe. But did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations?

There are five important reasons to vaccinate your child:
    1. Immunizations can save your child’s life. Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, have been eliminated completely and others are close to extinction-primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. One example of the great impact that vaccines can have is the elimination of polio in the United States. Polio was once America’s most feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States.
    2. Vaccination is very safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and health professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness or tenderness at the site of injection, but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.
    3. Immunization protects others you care about. Children in the U.S. still get vaccine preventable illness. In fact, we have seen resurgences of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years. In 2010 the U.S. had over 21,000 cases of whooping cough reported and 26 deaths, most in children younger than 6 months. Unfortunately, some babies are too young to be completely vaccinated and some people may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia, or other reasons. To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones.
    4. Immunizations can save your family time and money. A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or day-care facilities. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care. In contrast getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance. The Vaccines for Children program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children from low income families. To find out more about the VFC program, visit the CDC website or ask your child’s health care professional. In addition, Opelousas General Health System participates in the SHOTS FOR TOTS program that provides vaccines to children for a nominal fee. SHOTS FOR TOTS occurs once every month at either the Main Campus or South Campus. You may contact the hospitals for more information.
    5. Immunization protects future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide by vaccinating children against Rubella (German Measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States. If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.
    Now you may be wondering how vaccines work. “Well, when your child has an infection, his body relies on his immune system to fight the invading organisms. White blood cells activate and begin making proteins called antibodies that locate the infectious agent and create a defense. The immune system and the antibodies can eventually help to fight off an infection. Even after they have done their work, these antibodies don’t disappear. They remain in the bloodstream, always on the lookout for the return of the same germs to fight off. Vaccines work in a similar way. “Vaccines are weakened versions of the bacteria or virus responsible for the disease”, says Dr. Carmen Johnson, Chairperson of Pediatrics at Opelousas General Health System. “These weakened or dead organisms were killed in a way to preserve their ability to provide immunity or protection. When the vaccines are given, the body’s immune system detects this weakened or dead germ and reacts just as it would when a new full blown infection occurs. It begins making antibodies against the vaccine material. The antibodies remain in the body and are ready to react if an actual infectious organism attacks. In a sense, the vaccine tricks the body into thinking it is under assault, and the immune system makes weapons that will provide a defense when a real infection becomes a threat,” she added.

    Another concern about immunization is that children will have serious reactions to a vaccine or possibly acquire the illness the vaccine is supposed to prevent.

    “Because the components of vaccines are weakened or killed, and, in some cases, only parts of the microorganism are used, vaccines are unlikely to cause serious illness,” says Johnson. “Some vaccines may cause mild reactions, but serious reactions are rare.”

    Common reactions to vaccines include:
      § Fever
      § Rash
      § Swelling and/or tenderness at the injection site
      § Vomiting

    “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more severe reactions, including severe allergic reaction and seizures, are possible, but rare and occur in fewer than one of one million doses,” says QHR Clinical Operations Practice Leader Beth Buckley.

    There has more recently been concern over vaccines and autism, specifically the MMR vaccine. The original study that claimed to link the MMR vaccine has been retracted. These claims have not been supported by any other studies including those that attempted unsuccessfully to replicate his results. More than 20 peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies have shown no link between MMR and autism. Again, the CDC, the Institutes of Medicine, and other major research institutions looked into the issue, and found that there was an enormous amount of evidence that there is no connection between the MMR vaccine and autism and that there is no credible evidence that a link did exist.

    Vaccinating your child is an important decision. It is common for parents and caregivers to have questions about what is best for their children when it comes to vaccines. To learn more, talk to your pediatrician, family physician, or other health professional, or visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

    This article is provided courtesy of Opelousas General Health System and Quorum Health Resources.


    539 E. Prudhomme St., Opelousas, Louisiana, 70570, (337)948-3011