| August
is immunization awareness month
Preparing for school means gathering supplies and back packs. It’s also the perfect time to make sure children are up to date in their vaccines. Getting all of the recommended vaccines is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children’s health. St. Mary’s Hospital wants to remind parents when children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for disease and can spread disease to others in their classroom and community; including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions. Schools are highly susceptible to outbreaks of infectious diseases because students can easily transmit illnesses to one another as a result of poor hand washing, uncovered coughs and dense populations. Children age 4 to 6 are due for boosters of four vaccines: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and polio. Starting at 11 or 12, preteens and teens, need Tdap (tetanus, diphteria, pertussis), Menveo (meningococcal conjugate vaccine) and HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccines. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months and older. The meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menveo) is recommended for all preteens at age 11 or 12 for protection against some of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease. The two most severe and common illnesses caused by meningococcal disease are meningitis (an infection of the fluid and lining around the brain and spinal cord) and septicemia (a bloodstream infection) Meningitis can be very serious, even fatal. Vaccines are important for protecting children from serious and sometimes deadly diseases; immunizations create a shield of protection at school and at home. It’s important that children be protected from dangerous and highly contagious diseases like pertussis (also called whooping cough) and measles. Vaccines don’t just protect your child. Some diseases, like whooping cough, can be deadly for newborns or infants. You can help protect our littlest community members from being exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases by making sure your child is up to date. Diseases like measles are only a plane ride away. Measles epidemics are occurring in the Philippines with nearly 32,000 cases as of April 20, 2014. Vaccines are among the safest and most cost-effective ways to prevent disease. Protecting your children from preventable diseases will help keep them healthy and in school. “When a child comes down with a disease such as whooping cough, chickenpox or the flu, he or she may miss a lot of school while recovering and some children may have a difficult time catching up” commented Cheri Holthaus, SMH Community Relations Coordinator. “Somebody will need to stay home to provide care and/or make trips to the doctor; this is not a fun way to use your vacation time.” Parents who would like to get their children vaccinated may call any one of the SMH Clinics to set up an appointment; Cottonwood Clinic at 962-3267, Craigmont Clinic at 924-5504, Nezperce Clinic at 937-2496, Grangeville Clinic at 983-6027 or the Kamiah Clinic at 935-2585. |
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