Health Officials: Unvaccinated Infants at Risk

As the United Kingdom is experiencing an outbreak of measles among unvaccinated children, prompting health warnings and long lines at emergency vaccination clinics, local public health officials are reminding that diseases are only a plane ride away and, once in this country, put unvaccinated children at risk.

“Parents think of car seats, safety locks, baby gates and external ways to keep our babies safe, but forget that one of the best ways to protect our children is to make sure they have all their vaccinations,” said Janet Eberhart, immunization coordinator for the ten-county Northwest Georgia Public Health district.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 20 through 27, and Eberhart and her associates urge all northwest Georgians to protect infants from vaccine-preventable diseases by getting them vaccinated.

“Vaccination is one of the best ways parents can protect their infants from 14 serious childhood diseases before age two,” Eberhart said.  “Vaccinating your infant is the best way to protect them from serious illnesses like whooping cough and measles. We urge parents to speak with their pediatrician or healthcare provider and make sure their infant is up to date on their vaccinations.” 

*Two doses given at least four weeks apart are recommended for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time and for some other children in this age group.

Two doses of HepA vaccine are needed for lasting protection.  The first dose of HepA vaccine should be given between 12 months and 23 months of age.  The second dose should be given 6 to 18 months later.  HepA vaccination may be given to any child 12 months and older to protect against HepA.  Children and adolescents, who did not receive the HepA vaccine and are at high risk, should be vaccinated against HepA.

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. “They not only help protect vaccinated individuals, but also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases,” Eberhart continued.

“Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children have been eliminated while others are close to extinction, primarily because of safe and effective vaccines.”

As an example, Eberhart pointed out polio, which was once America’s most feared disease. “It caused paralysis and death across the United States,” she said. “Today, thanks to vaccinations, there are no reports of polio in our country.  Other diseases  —   measles, whooping cough and mumps, for example  —  are still in circulation, but since they are rare in the U.S., sometimes people tend to forget that,” she said.

Another example, according to Eberhart, is pertussis — or whooping cough. In 2012, the United States saw an increase in the number of whooping cough cases reported with approximately 44,810 cases being reported, including 18 deaths. The majority of these deaths were among infants younger than 3 months of age.  Similar to U.S. trends, Georgia saw an increase in whooping cough cases with approximately 321 cases being reported. However, Georgia had no pertussis-related deaths in 2012.

She noted immunizations can save families time and money as well as pain and suffering. “A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or childcare facilities,” Eberhart said. “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.”

In contrast, getting vaccinated against the 14 vaccine-preventable childhood diseases is a good investment and is usually covered by insurance, she added. “Your local health department also offers Vaccines for Children, a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children from lower-income families.”

Vaccines are safe and effective. According to the CDC, the United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in its history. Vaccines are given to children only after long and careful review by scientists, doctors and healthcare professionals.

Contact your pediatrician or your local public health department to ensure your infant is up-to-date on vaccinations. For more information on child vaccinations, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)