Back to school preparation is still two months away, but a great way to get your child off to a good start next school year is to schedule your child’s immunizations now.Only about 70 percent of Colorado’s children entering kindergarten are up to date on recommended immunizations. And vaccine preventable diseases are still around – each year in Colorado and El Paso County children suffer from preventable diseases such as Pertussis (whooping cough) and chickenpox.Immunization provides protection from diseases that are serious and potentially fatal. For instance, teens are at higher risk for meningitis. Although this disease is rare, one out of 10 meningitis victims die. We have a simple and effective vaccine to protect them from this devastating disease.Keep in mind these important reasons to vaccinate:Vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful study by scientists, doctors and health care professionals. Getting a vaccine may cause some discomfort such as pain, redness or tenderness at the site of injection, but this is minimal compared to the injury and chances of long-term harm from the diseases these vaccines prevent. Serious side effects following vaccination are rare.Immunization protects others you care about. Unfortunately, young babies may be incompletely vaccinated and some people may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to weakened immune systems from conditions like cancer. To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. This helps protect your family and also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones.Immunization can save your family time and money. A child who gets ill with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or child care facilities and will need to be cared for at home. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term care. Compare that risk to the low cost of most vaccines, which are usually covered by insurance. The Vaccines for Children program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at a low cost for children. To find out more about the VFC program, visit http://cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/ or ask your child’s health care professional.Where to get vaccinations:
- Your family doctor
- El Paso County Public Health, 301 S. Union Blvd. Call 719-578-3199 to schedule an appointment. A current shot record is required.
- Peak Vista Community Health Centers, 719-632-5700, http://peakvista.org
