The Importance of Immunizing Your Kids

School starts again soon. While your children’s backpacks are now ready and you have already bought school supplies, it is also important for parents to get their kids’ immune system ready.

Going to school does not only mean attending classes and having homework, it also means more exposure to germs and other things.

In Texas for example, students are required to fulfill minimum vaccine requirements. Five new vaccination requirements were added in 2009 in order for schools to adhere to immunization practices of the Centers for Disease Control.

Immunization protects not only your child but all your loved ones as well. The CDC says that to keep everyone safe, it is of importance to have your children immunized. Of course, there is also a need for you to get vaccinations for preventable diseases. Aside from health concerns, getting your kids immunized will also save you money since prolonged illness can put a dent on your budget. Vaccines are covered by insurance anyway so you might as well get your kids vaccinated.

Children with vaccine-preventable disease are usually kept out of the school so as not to endanger other children. If this happens to your child, he or she will lose a few days or even weeks of class and this is most definitely a bad thing.

Another benefit of getting your child immunized is that it will protect your child from diseases that have caused thousands of deaths decades or centuries ago. Polio for example was once a feared disease in the United States but thanks to advances in medical science, there are no more reports of people having polio in the United States.

Vaccinations are safe and are only administered after they have been carefully reviewed by healthcare professionals. Some vaccines may cause a bit of discomfort though but this is only minimal.

One interesting thing about vaccines is that they do not only protect this generation but also future generations. According to CDC, vaccines have reduced the occurrence of dangerous diseases and in some cases have even eliminated many of these diseases. One good example is smallpox. Smallpox vaccinations were given to a generation of the world population and as a result, it eradicated the disease. Today, there is no more need for your kids to get vaccination for smallpox because smallpox no longer exists.

Experts say that if we keep vaccinating our children to protect them from deadly diseases, it is very possible that in the future, diseases such as measles or polio will no longer cripple our children. As will any injection you should contact your Plano Pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's immunizations.