Two Nurses Honored for Outstanding Care • Thanks from Our Patients • Community Events
Your Child's Immunizations Up-to-Date?
School days are just before us and as
parents begin their annual celebration
and children start their dreaded countdown,
there is one item parents must
add to their “back to school” to-do lists:
making sure children are current on their
immunizations.Immunization against diseases such as varicella (chicken pox), measles and polio has been an amazing success. Childhood diseases that once often resulted in serious illness, disability or even death are largely preventable through immunization and are rarely seen in American children today.
However, that doesn't mean that parents can stop being vigilant. These diseases have not disappeared. They are being controlled through immunization. For example, in 2002, 90% of American children were vaccinated against measles, and there were no measles-related deaths reported. Prior to the development of the vaccine in the 1960s, there was an average of 450 measles deaths each year.* Since immunizations help protect your children against dangerous diseases, it is vitally important that vaccinations be kept up-to-date, and preparing to return to school is a perfect reminder.
Are There Risks Involved?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history. In very rare cases, children may experience a serious side effect, such as an allergic reaction. In most cases, vaccines are effective and either cause no side effects or result in a mild fever or soreness at the injection site. However, not immunizing a child involves a much greater risk.According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 1 million U.S. children are not fully immunized. Should these children come in contact with an infectious individual, perhaps on a trip abroad or through contact with an overseas visitor to the United States, there is a serious risk that the child could contract a dangerous disease.
When Should My Child Be Vaccinated? Visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2009 recommended schedule for childhood and adolescent immunizations. Since your child may have specific health issues, be sure to talk with your child's health care provider about an appropriate vaccination schedule.
Vaccination Destinations
Between picking up new shoes and a new backpack, you can find one of the following quality medical facilities to have your child vaccinated:
 Clearlake Family Health Center15230 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake Phone: 707-995-4500 Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4:30 p.m |
Kelseyville Family Health Center 5290 State Street, Kelseyville Phone: 707-279-8813 Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
Middletown Family Health Center 21337 Bush Street, Middletown Phone: 707-987-3311 Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
Call our FREE Physician Referral Line to find a doctor or specialist: 800-540-3611.
* Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov.
Information in Well NOW comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Images may be from one or more of these sources: ©Jupiterimages, ©iStock, ©Getty Images. ©2009 Priority Publications, Inc. priorityresults.com