The Best “Shot” to Protect Your Kids From Illness

As school bells ring out once again, our kids will fill their backpacks with notebooks, pencils, and other school supplies. But, there is something else they should be taking with them - protection from severe illnesses through immunization. Vaccinations have drastically reduced, and sometimes eradicated, diseases that once caused widespread illness. They undergo rigorous testing, and the benefits far outweigh the minimal risks of mild side effects.

In addition to protecting our kids from serious diseases such as measles and polio, vaccinating our children also protects those who can’t be vaccinated due to medical reasons.  This herd immunity acts as a safety net for everyone. Preventing diseases through vaccination also saves families from medical expenses and lost time from work or school. Additionally, immunizations prevent long-term health issues that can arise from diseases that vaccines prevent.

Here are some tips on how to stay up-to-date with our children’s vaccinations. First, we should make sure our kids meet the requirements for when they start school, which will generally follow the vaccination schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We should maintain a copy of records of our kid’s immunizations. Finally, schedule regular check-ups with your child's pediatrician to review your child's records and manage overdue vaccines. By keeping track of our children’s immunization schedules, we can ensure they will be fully protected.

Here are three steps that can help spread awareness about the importance of immunizations.