Immunization Awareness Month

Though quite a controversial subject - August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Guest columnist Amy Wadsworth shares some brief information on immunizing your child and the benefits to doing so.

Immunizations are important to prevent children from diseases that could kill, infect or cripple them. Infants and children should be immunized. Most vaccines are given during the first five to six years of a child’s life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children under the age of 5 are susceptible to disease because their immune systems are not built up to fight infection. Vaccinate your child by age 2 and you can protect your child from disease and protect others at child care centers and schools.

Deanna Matthews, child care health consultant with the Gaston County Health Department, works with licensed child care centers and family child care homes to help keep immunizations up-to-date. 

Matthews also offers free trainings including Communicable Diseases and Immunizations. This training educates on the various types of communicable diseases and precautions to protect staff and children from contracting and or spreading potential infectious diseases.

"Childcare providers can stay healthier by washing their hands properly and frequently and also maintaining their current immunizations, especially tetanus," says Matthews.

“Vaccines play an important role in protecting the health of children in child care," she continues. "When up-to-date on their immunizations, children are better protected against vaccine preventable diseases. 

The benefits extend beyond the individual. Vaccine-preventable diseases cause greater illness in children and vulnerable adults than healthy adults. The greater the number of people immunized, the greater the benefit to the community.”

Childcare centers are required to know the immunization status of children in their care. This information protects the children that the center provides care for as well as their staff.

Some of the vaccines your children need include Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Pertussis (or whooping cough), Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

Your pediatrician can let you know if your child is up-to-date with his shots; there are also those required for going back to school. Children can also receive immunizations at their local health department and most vaccines for childhood immunizations are provided at no cost.

For more information about immunizations, visit Immunize North Carolina at www.immunizenc.com. 

Amy Wadsworth is the Public Information Coordinator for the Partnership for Children of Lincoln & Gaston Counties. She can be reached at 704.922.0900.