Vaccination
The Truth Behind Vaccination Myths
Vaccination, Immunization, Vaccines, whatever you call them, are the one subject that will trigger heated debates among parents these days. There are so many myths floating about the Internet, parent groups, and newsrooms today that have millions of parents debating whether or not to have their pediatricians do even the required school immunizations every year. The thing to remember is, that for every myth, there are dozens of truths that remain ignored or hidden by fears.
If you have concerns about any required vaccination for your child, contact us at Pediatric Partners today. Our qualified and experienced staff will not only answer your questions, but can also advise you on all vaccines currently in use.
What is a Vaccination?
When you get a vaccination, you are safely injected with a very small amount of the virus or bacteria that causes the disease the immunization is supposed to protect you from. What is included is a very weakened version of it, but it is still enough to trigger your body’s immune system, forcing it to provide antibodies for those diseases. This way, if you are ever exposed to it again, your immune system is already prepared to fight with the antibodies already at its disposal. Vaccines may not completely prevent the onset, but it will affect the severity of it.
Why Get A Vaccination?
When it comes to immunizations, the goal of authorities such as The Center For Disease Control ( CDC) as well as pediatric associations and hospitals, is to protect your children from some very serious diseases. Everyone knows that it is more cost-efficient in healthcare to prevent something rather than treat it, and that is what vaccines are meant to do. Some are meant to be given only once, while other will require boosters to maintain your child’s immunity to many common childhood diseases.
Vaccines are designed to protect your child and you from serious disease, and to prevent the spreading of a disease to others that will come into contact with all of you. Over the years since vaccines were first available for public use, their use was responsible for ending epidemics of what was once common infectious diseases: mumps, measles, chicken pox, tetanus, smallpox and polio.
What Immunizations Are Necessary?
Most school systems these days require that any child enrolled needs to have the following immunizations before they can attend:
• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
• Haemophlus Influenza Type B
• Pneumococcal
• Inactivated Polio Virus
• Influenza
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Varicella
• Hepatitis A
• Meningococcal
At one time, each of the listed diseases posed serious health risks for children all over the world. Thousands of them died from lack of care, but now most of these diseases are at their lowest levels in years. Thanks to yearly immunizations, millions of children are alive today.
Possible Side Effects
Today, vaccines are safer than they once were. But, just like any other medication, some people will experience side effects. In most cases, the vaccine side effects are mild, and not anything to worry about. The most common side effects to a vaccine are:
• Soreness or redness around the injection site
• Low grade fever
It is only in extremely rare cases that a fever in excess of 104 degrees will occur after receiving a vaccine. Children can have allergic reactions to a vaccine, but these will happen soon after getting the shot. Always ask our pediatrician what immunizations contain if you are worried that your child might have an allergic reaction to a vaccination ingredient.
Vaccination
The Truth Behind Vaccination Myths
Vaccination, Immunization, Vaccines, whatever you call them, are the one subject that will trigger heated debates among parents these days. There are so many myths floating about the Internet, parent groups, and newsrooms today that have millions of parents debating whether or not to have their pediatricians do even the required school immunizations every year. The thing to remember is, that for every myth, there are dozens of truths that remain ignored or hidden by fears.
If you have concerns about any required vaccination for your child, contact us at Pediatric Partners today. Our qualified and experienced staff will not only answer your questions, but can also advise you on all vaccines currently in use.
What is a Vaccination?
When you get a vaccination, you are safely injected with a very small amount of the virus or bacteria that causes the disease the immunization is supposed to protect you from. What is included is a very weakened version of it, but it is still enough to trigger your body’s immune system, forcing it to provide antibodies for those diseases. This way, if you are ever exposed to it again, your immune system is already prepared to fight with the antibodies already at its disposal. Vaccines may not completely prevent the onset, but it will affect the severity of it.
Why Get A Vaccination?
When it comes to immunizations, the goal of authorities such as The Center For Disease Control ( CDC) as well as pediatric associations and hospitals, is to protect your children from some very serious diseases. Everyone knows that it is more cost-efficient in healthcare to prevent something rather than treat it, and that is what vaccines are meant to do. Some are meant to be given only once, while other will require boosters to maintain your child’s immunity to many common childhood diseases.
Vaccines are designed to protect your child and you from serious disease, and to prevent the spreading of a disease to others that will come into contact with all of you. Over the years since vaccines were first available for public use, their use was responsible for ending epidemics of what was once common infectious diseases: mumps, measles, chicken pox, tetanus, smallpox and polio.
What Immunizations Are Necessary?
Most school systems these days require that any child enrolled needs to have the following immunizations before they can attend:
• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
• Haemophlus Influenza Type B
• Pneumococcal
• Inactivated Polio Virus
• Influenza
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella
• Varicella
• Hepatitis A
• Meningococcal
At one time, each of the listed diseases posed serious health risks for children all over the world. Thousands of them died from lack of care, but now most of these diseases are at their lowest levels in years. Thanks to yearly immunizations, millions of children are alive today.
Possible Side Effects
Today, vaccines are safer than they once were. But, just like any other medication, some people will experience side effects. In most cases, the vaccine side effects are mild, and not anything to worry about. The most common side effects to a vaccine are:
• Soreness or redness around the injection site
• Low grade fever
It is only in extremely rare cases that a fever in excess of 104 degrees will occur after receiving a vaccine. Children can have allergic reactions to a vaccine, but these will happen soon after getting the shot. Always ask our pediatrician what immunizations contain if you are worried that your child might have an allergic reaction to a vaccination ingredient.