Showing posts with label Vaccine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vaccine. Show all posts

Monday, September 10, 2012

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.


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Protect Your Kids with the Flu Vaccine


Flu Vaccine

Influenza can prove devastating to children, complications are worse for children under the age of 9. A new discovery proves safe guarding children with the nasal flu vaccine protects your children from a large range of influenza strains. One of the biggest misconceptions is your children could contract the flu virus just by receiving the vaccines. Studies prove your children have more health risks by not receiving the vaccine. If your child currently experiencing symptom of the flu or you expect your child is seriously ill, please contact your pediatrician as soon as possible.

Kids under 9 receive two influenza vaccines. The options are injections or nasal spray (can mix one of each). The vaccines contain a weakened flu virus never strong enough to develop the actual virus. The first vaccine begins the body's antibody production. The second triggers the immune response. Within two weeks of the injection the body builds up the proper antibodies to protect against the virus.

Nasal spray or injection...which one is better? According to the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) toddlers who received one of their doses through nasal spray has the broadest range immune defensives compared to two injections. Three important T-cells were developed in children who took the nasal spray compared to injections. The added T-cells are the additive to the wider range of influenza strains. Another study by the Center of Dieses Control and Prevention the nasal spray reduced the chance of illness by 92% compared to placebo. Researcher found all children in this study healthy and did not develop adverse side effects to the spray or shot form.

When should my children receive the flu vaccine? The vaccine process needed to start months before flu season -December, January and beyond. The earliest outbreaks start in October, so schedule your appointment with your health care provider as soon as possible. Your health provider will discuss who can qualify for the nasal spray and the availability in your area. Find more pediatric advice here.

Resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm#chronic-diseases
Health Day post: retrieved Aug, 18 www.healthdaynews.com
http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/hs¬¬n/20110818/hl_hsn/kidsbenefitfromfluvaccineviashotorspraystudyfinds

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