We often hear about reports of possible side effects of vaccines, but rarely hear about kids actually getting the illnesses that vaccines protect against. That may lead some parents to question the importance of vaccines in today's day and age.
Many of us have older family members who were affected by a vaccine preventable illness. Maybe a grandfather who is deaf after having mumps, an uncle who is still suffering the disabling effects of polio, or and aunt who died from Hib meningitis or measles. But when was the last time that you personally knew a child who had a vaccine preventable illness, such as polio, measles, or diphtheria?
Since many of these infections have been eradicated in the United States, even many younger Pediatricians have never seen these illnesses.
This was highlighted in a recent report from the CDC that rubella is no longer considered a 'major public health threat' in the United States.
The CDC also reports that:
- measles infections are at record low levels in the United States, but there were 16 measles outbreaks from 2001-2003 secondary to cases imported from international travelers. And unfortunately, the World Health Organization reports that 'measles remains a leading cause of death among young children,' causing the death of more than half a million people, mostly children, in 2003.
- polio is almost fully eradicated worldwide, with only six polio endemic countries remaining, including Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Niger, Afghanistan, and Egypt. Although we fell short of the planned global eradication of polio by the year 2000, that goal will hopefully be realized soon and then experts can plan for when this vaccine who no longer be needed.
- diphtheria, although now rare in the United States, is still a big threat worldwide
- although there were only 41 cases of tetanus in the United States in recent years, around the world, 'tetanus kills 300,000 newborns and 30,000 birth mothers who were not properly vaccinated.' Keep in mind that since the tetanus bacteria is 'widespread in the environment,' even though it is not contagious, we will likely always need this vaccine.
One big reason is that, according to the CDC, many vaccine preventable diseases that have decreased to very low levels in the United States 'are still quite prevalent - even epidemic - in other parts of the world.' That could allow an infected traveler to bring these infections back into the United States, which could quickly spread if people weren't immunized against them. So until these infections are totally eradicated worldwide, like occurred with smallpox, it is important to continue to receive vaccines to protect our children.
Remember that many of these 'infectious diseases are only a plane ride away. If we stopped immunization, the U.S. might experience a situation similar to the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union. With the breakdown of the public health services in this area, diphtheria epidemics began in 1990, fueled primarily by persons who were not properly vaccinated. From 1990-1999, more than 150,000 cases and 5,000 deaths were reported.'
And other infections, like pertussis or whooping cough, are an even more of a direct treat and are on the rise in the United States. This should lead to a call in the near future to give older kids a booster dose of the pertussis vaccine, in combination with the tetanus shot that they usually get at around age 11 or 12 years.
Considering the fact that your child could still be at risk from most of these infections and that more and more reports are confirming the safety of vaccines and that there is no association between vaccines and autism, you should feel comfortable getting your child immunized.
If you are still on the fence about vaccines, consider the World Health Organization's statement that 'in the 21st century, it is every child's right to live free from vaccine-preventable disease.'
Without getting vaccines, do you want to worry that your kids may have measles every time they get a fever and rash or that they could have pertussis whenever they cough? And do you want to worry that your sick child could pass on a vaccine preventable illness to a child who has a weakened immune system, including kids with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy, or an infant who hasn't had time to get fully immunized yet?
