This summer, do something for your child and your school ñ get your vaccinations up to date so you can avoid being part of the back-to-school rush.By making an appointment now, youíll keep your child protected against common vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and chickenpox. Appointments are available now and throughout this summer at El Paso County Public Health, 1675 W. Garden of the Gods Road. Call (719) 578-3199 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins may be accommodated based on availability. Make sure to bring a copy of your childís vaccination record.Only between 79 and 93 percent of kindergartners entered school up to date on required vaccines in Colorado for the 2010-2011 school year. Vaccine-preventable diseases are still around ñ both measles and pertussis (whooping cough) are on the rise. In 2010 and 2011, Colorado had almost 1,000 reported cases of pertussis.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.To learn about the Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccines at a low cost for children, visit http://cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/ or ask your childís health care professional.For more information about immunization, visit http://elpasocountyhealth.org.
