Our Little Ones Deserve the Same Shot We Got, Right?

In 1980, the world celebrated one of medical science’s greatest accomplishments: the eradication of smallpox, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease that had no specific treatment. It took a vaccine, developed by Edward Jenner in 1796, roughly 200 years to fully eliminate the disease due to challenges in production, distribution, and immunization coordination across the globe.

In today’s modern era, those challenges exist to a much lesser extent, and the world is closer than ever to wiping out a number of diseases through vaccines. These include polio, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, and measles (recent outbreak of the non-vaccinated excluded).

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), April 21-28, highlights the importance of protecting infants and young children from vaccine-preventable diseases by encouraging parents to ensure their children are up to date with their routine immunizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that children stay on track with their well-child appointments and routine vaccinations.

Childhood immunization is safe and highly effective, preventing millions of illnesses and deaths annually, with most vaccines achieving immunity in over 90% of children. Vaccines have saved an estimated 154 million lives since 1974, including 146 million among children under 5.

Vaccination has also accounted for 40% of the decline in global infant mortality, with rates falling by over two-thirds since 1974. In addition, routine childhood immunization prevents an estimated 508 million lifetime cases of illness and 32 million hospitalizations. Immunizations not only protect your child – they protect others, including future generations.

Southwestern Medical Center can help you access on-time vaccinations for your child or children. Our primary care providers at Southwestern Medical Affiliates will help keep your child up to date because the last thing you want is a child sick with a preventable disease.

If you don’t currently have a primary care provider, you can find one here or by calling 580-531-6420.

Please give your child the same shot you got to avoid preventable diseases.