It goes without saying that when we raised our glasses to ring in a new decade on New Year’s Eve nobody could have anticipated the drastic changes that have swept our world and continue to do so. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has turned the world on its axel setting forth a chain reaction of transformations of everything from the way we work, dine, learn, socialize, and care for one another. If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s to keep our health and wellbeing at the forefront and staying up-to-date on your vaccines and boosters is one simple way to maintain your health. August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), an annual observance to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.

Why vaccinate?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages. The CDC has a table to easily follow child and adolescent immunization schedule for ages 18 years or younger as well as adults.

Vaccination is very safe and effective

According to vaccines.gov vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare 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.

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. Your children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. 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.

With everything going on, keeping you and your family’s health in top form is essential. Providing high-quality care has long been our hallmark, with respect and understanding for the individual patient, their dignity and his or her unique needs. You will find the staff at Memorial Community Hospital & Health System is committed to service excellence and we pledge to provide exceptional customer service to you and your family members. Our goal is to be the very best community hospital in the area. We offer a wide range of services to our community, delivered by competent and caring professionals, working with the providers of the MCH&HS Medical Staff. Visit us online today!

Sources:
https://mchhs.org/patient-visitor-information
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/index.html
https://www.vaccines.gov/get-vaccinated/for_parents/five_reasons