Immunization check: Back to school means updating health records
As parents, we experience a “few” (hundred) worries. We may worry when our teenager drives out of the driveway, we may worry that our preschooler cries all day at school, we may worry that our 12-year-old breaks a bone playing football - it seems there is always something to be concerned about, but there are some worries that never cross our minds.
For instance, do you ever worry that your 9-year-old is coming down with polio or that your 5-year-old may be hospitalized with measles? Are you afraid that your son or daughter will die from a bad case of the mumps? These thoughts, although very valid at one time, are no longer a threat in our minds. Thanks to immunization schedules and the invention of vaccines, our children are, for the most part, protected from many childhood illnesses that at one time crippled and claimed lives.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prior to the polio vaccine, 13,000 to 20,000 people were paralyzed by polio and approximately 1,000 died from the disease every year. Most of those infected were elementary school children. Before the measles vaccine, 48,000 people were hospitalized each year and about 3,000 died, and before the rubella vaccine as many as 20,000 babies were born every year with birth defects because of the capacity of rubella virus to infect an unborn child.
Rene Seeds, a registered nurse with the Holmes County Health District, strongly recommends all parents make sure their child’s immunizations are up-to-date.
“The Holmes County Health District encourages parents to have all of their children vaccinated starting at 2 months of age,” Seeds said. “Doing so helps prevent the spread of childhood diseases which can become serious, cause medical expenses, time off school and expose others to the disease.”
The state of Ohio does require certain vaccines for children before starting school or day care. Those requirements include: DTaP, DTP, or DT (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis); OPV or IPV (Polio); MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella); Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type b); HEP B (Hepatitis B). These vaccines are required in various doses at different age levels.
“Public schools do require these vaccines for a child to attend school,” Seeds explained. “However, if a parent requests a waiver for medical/religious reasons and there is an outbreak of a disease the child is not vaccinated for, the child would be excluded from school until it is safe for all concerned. Any child not vaccinated is at a huge risk. Choosing to not vaccinate not only puts your child at risk, but others as well.”
When individuals choose to not vaccinate their children it can cause major health incidents and outbreaks. For example, between 1990 and 1991 the city of Philadelphia was in the middle of a measles epidemic. At the center of the epidemic was a religious group that refused immunizations for themselves and their children. Seven children in the church developed a severe form of pneumonia as the measles virus infected their lungs. By the time these children were taken to the hospital, it was too late and all seven died from measles.
Dying from measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis is almost unheard of in the United States because most people take the time to immunize their child and keep their own immunizations updated as well.
“Vaccines are vitally important,” Seeds added. “The health district offers vaccines year round, Monday through Friday, with the exception of the first and third Wednesday afternoon of the month. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 1-2 p.m. for lunch).”
Other area vaccine clinics available throughout this year include Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 13, 27, Oct. 11, 25, Nov. 8, 22 and Dec. 13; at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mount Hope, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 7, 21, Oct. 5, 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 7; and at Keim Lumber at Charm, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14.
Measles can be a major health threat to a child. Fortunately the vaccine is highly effective, which means the real challenge is getting people to take it. All parents are encouraged to take the immunization process seriously and make sure all vaccines are up-to-date for their children. As parents you have enough to worry about without adding additional stress to your life. No one should be concerned about measles, mumps and other childhood diseases in this day and age.
For instance, do you ever worry that your 9-year-old is coming down with polio or that your 5-year-old may be hospitalized with measles? Are you afraid that your son or daughter will die from a bad case of the mumps? These thoughts, although very valid at one time, are no longer a threat in our minds. Thanks to immunization schedules and the invention of vaccines, our children are, for the most part, protected from many childhood illnesses that at one time crippled and claimed lives.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prior to the polio vaccine, 13,000 to 20,000 people were paralyzed by polio and approximately 1,000 died from the disease every year. Most of those infected were elementary school children. Before the measles vaccine, 48,000 people were hospitalized each year and about 3,000 died, and before the rubella vaccine as many as 20,000 babies were born every year with birth defects because of the capacity of rubella virus to infect an unborn child.
Rene Seeds, a registered nurse with the Holmes County Health District, strongly recommends all parents make sure their child’s immunizations are up-to-date.
“The Holmes County Health District encourages parents to have all of their children vaccinated starting at 2 months of age,” Seeds said. “Doing so helps prevent the spread of childhood diseases which can become serious, cause medical expenses, time off school and expose others to the disease.”
The state of Ohio does require certain vaccines for children before starting school or day care. Those requirements include: DTaP, DTP, or DT (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis); OPV or IPV (Polio); MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella); Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type b); HEP B (Hepatitis B). These vaccines are required in various doses at different age levels.
“Public schools do require these vaccines for a child to attend school,” Seeds explained. “However, if a parent requests a waiver for medical/religious reasons and there is an outbreak of a disease the child is not vaccinated for, the child would be excluded from school until it is safe for all concerned. Any child not vaccinated is at a huge risk. Choosing to not vaccinate not only puts your child at risk, but others as well.”
When individuals choose to not vaccinate their children it can cause major health incidents and outbreaks. For example, between 1990 and 1991 the city of Philadelphia was in the middle of a measles epidemic. At the center of the epidemic was a religious group that refused immunizations for themselves and their children. Seven children in the church developed a severe form of pneumonia as the measles virus infected their lungs. By the time these children were taken to the hospital, it was too late and all seven died from measles.
Dying from measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis is almost unheard of in the United States because most people take the time to immunize their child and keep their own immunizations updated as well.
“Vaccines are vitally important,” Seeds added. “The health district offers vaccines year round, Monday through Friday, with the exception of the first and third Wednesday afternoon of the month. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 1-2 p.m. for lunch).”
Other area vaccine clinics available throughout this year include Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 13, 27, Oct. 11, 25, Nov. 8, 22 and Dec. 13; at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mount Hope, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 7, 21, Oct. 5, 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 7; and at Keim Lumber at Charm, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14.
Measles can be a major health threat to a child. Fortunately the vaccine is highly effective, which means the real challenge is getting people to take it. All parents are encouraged to take the immunization process seriously and make sure all vaccines are up-to-date for their children. As parents you have enough to worry about without adding additional stress to your life. No one should be concerned about measles, mumps and other childhood diseases in this day and age.
Published: September 5, 2011
