 | ||
|
| |    Myth: My Child Doesn't Need to be Immunized by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Myth: My child doesn't need to be immunized because the diseases vaccines prevent have been wiped out, and he isn't ever going to be exposed to them. Fact: As long as the diseases still exist anywhere in the world, a child will be at risk if he is not immunized. There is no question that unvaccinated children in countries with high immunization rates are less apt to get diseases like tetanus, measles, or polio than unvaccinated children in developing countries with low immunization rates. However, this does not mean that a child definitely won't become infected. The simple fact is that if he is exposed to the germ and has not been immunized, he is at risk of developing the disease and all of its complications. False sense of security Many parents feel a false sense of security when they hear that immunization rates are at all-time highs and cases of vaccine-preventable diseases are at all-time lows in countries like the United States. They think that their child will be safe because he won't be exposed to the germs that cause these diseases. Unfortunately, I have seen many otherwise healthy children in the United States become seriously ill, permanently disabled, and even die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines. Their parents thought it would never happen to their child. If you are considering not having your child immunized, you may want to take a look at comments provided by parents whose children have suffered from diseases that can be prevented by vaccines on the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) site at www.immunize.org. Their comments might help you make a more informed final decision. Infectious diseases spread easily Many parents don't realize how very easily-and rapidly-these diseases can spread. For instance, just one case of measles can start a community outbreak. One adult with a persistent cough due to pertussis may infect many infants and young children who could get very sick, or even die from a pertussis infection. Hepatitis B is spread by exposure to infected blood, so a child could be exposed if a playmate with hepatitis B cuts himself on the playground. Also, even though there haven't been any cases of polio in the United States for a long time, there is always a chance that someone could contract this highly contagious disease in another country and carry it here. And as of 2000 and 2001, there is an outbreak of polio in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Adapted from the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii) Copyright 2000, and the National Immunization Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
| |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Us |
Contact Us |
Our Partners Privacy Policy | Ethics | Advertising Policy | Terms of Service © Copyright 2004 The Dr. Spock Company. All Rights Reserved. THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information drSpock.com
provides is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your health care
professional if you have a specific health concern. Mention or advertisement
of any product, service, or brand does not constitute endorsement, guarantee,
or recommendation by The Dr. Spock Company. Please read our full
Terms of Service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
