What You Should Know About Immunizations. Review on Knowing About Immunizations

Immunizing you child can be one of the most important ways that we as parents can protect our children against serious illness. I know that it can be a traumatic experience for both the child and the parent, but it really is an act of love. We currently have vaccines that will protect our children from eleven different diseases. Those would include: Measeles Mumps German Measles Diphtheria Tetanus Pheumoccal Infection Whooping Cough Polio HIB Disease Hepatitis B Chicken Pox Because of immunizations, the risks of both children and adults getting those diseases has greatly decreased. We must remember, though, that the germs that cause these diseases are still very much around and that if you do not immunize your children it is very possible that your child could contract them. We must also remember that these diseases can be deadly.

Even in this day and age, children who contact any of these diseases could: Die or have a variety of serious health problems such as: Pnumonia Brain Damage Choking Heart Problems Did you realize that immunizations have saved more lives than any other medications or surgical procedures known to man? In their first years of life, babies have some immunity to these diseases. They receive this limited protection from both their mothers womb and through their mothers breast milk. Babies will lose all of their mothers antibodies after their first year of life. That is where the immunizations will come in. They will help to keep children immune from diseases by helping them to create new antibodies. What the vaccines do is to fool the body into thinking that it is being attacked by the particular disease and then the body produces antibodies to fight it. These antibodies will then stay with the child so that they will be protected if they are exposed to the disease. Although immunizations are safe, there can be side effect just like with any other medications. Most of the time the only reaction will be soreness around the injection site or a slight fever. Any other reactions are highly unlikely so it is much more dangerous to keep you child from getting the vaccination.

* Now there are always exceptions to that rule and in some cases it may be more dangerous to give the immunization and that must be determined by you and your doctor. An example: Three of my children nearly died from their first doses of pertusis. This is what prevents whooping cough. It was decided by their doctor that instead of the DPT the would only get the DT(which is diphtheria and tetanus). Each of the vaccinations that your child will be given has undergone vigorous testing by the FDA before they are even licensed for public use. And, after it is licensed it will continue to be monitored for its continued safety. Many people are afraid that the vaccines are more dangerous than the disease itself. This is simple just not true in most cases. There is a much greater risk of death or serious complications from the diseases we are trying to protect against than the vaccines that we are using to protect against them.

There is a whole lot of information about immunizations on the web and in the media. It is important to know what you should trust and what you should not. To help yourself make a good and informed choice regarding immunization and your child's health-You Must Become Fully Educated! If you have any questions or concerns you should talk to your health care provider.