Immunization Awareness and Disease Prevention

Articles

Aug 1

Much research supports the use of vaccines and their effectiveness in preventing life-threatening diseases for children. The recommendations for the timing of vaccines largely depend on the age and size of a child and their health condition. There are many factors that can influence when a child received immunizations, but mainly, if health is not preventing vaccination, it is recommended they receive immunizations before potentially encountering life-threatening diseases somewhere. Taking into consideration potential international travel is of specific importance, especially in places where there are cases of any of these diseases still present.

Stages of life are considered with vaccination schedules and depend upon the child’s overall condition of health, height, weight, as well as their age. Here are the recommendations from the CDC for immunization schedules during each stage of a child’s life as well as maternal recommendations:

Early Childhood

During infancy and toddler years - usually, birth to two years old - there are a higher number of recommended immunizations. The following fall under the CDC recommended vaccination schedule:

Chickenpox
Polio
MMR
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Rotavirus
Pneumococcal
Flu & Type B (Hib)

When a child enters school-age, many schools will require a certificate or records of immunization to enroll in the institution. Most of the initial vaccines will need additional doses for effectiveness. Here are the recommendations for Preschool and Elementary school age vaccinations.

Chickenpox
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP)
MMR
Polio
Flu

Preteen & Teen

Typically a similar immunization requirement or certification is required from some colleges or universities for admission, so as a child reaches 17 or 18, they will often receive additional vaccines. These are the vaccines recommended for teenage years:

Meningococcal conjugate
Serogroup B meningococcal
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Flu

Maternal

During pregnancy, moms are susceptible to more viruses and illnesses due to a sometimes weakened immune system. There are a few recommended vaccines that pregnant women can receive to decrease their chance of contracting a disease that could be life-threatening, especially during pregnancy:

MMR
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
Flu

Types of Vaccines

There are several different types of vaccines to stay updated on:

Attenuated or weakened live germ vaccines: present in vaccines for viruses active today such as measles, chicken pox, mumps, etc.
Toxoid vaccines: contain an inactive toxin that the virus strain creates in order to build immunity.
mRNA or messenger RNA vaccines: use a part of the virus's RNA to create the vaccine. For example, some of the Covid-19 vaccines use the mRNA type.
Conjugate vaccines: These vaccines contain small pieces of the strain to help activate the immune system to protect against similar strains. These types of vaccines are HPV, hepatitis, and whooping cough shots.
Killed or inactive germs: commonly used in flu and polio shots.

Why Are Vaccines Important for Children?

Making sure your child stays vaccinated can ensure they are healthy throughout the school year and defend against viruses that are active in our society at any moment. Not only does getting vaccinated prevent you and your children from getting sick it also protects others in your life and community from having to encounter the strains in everyday places like schools, libraries, gyms, etc.

Getting your children vaccinated is beneficial in the following ways:

Immunizations protect your community and your family: by getting immunized from the toddler-age and up, you protect vulnerable people in your communities such as babies and immune-compromised people from the exposure which can prove deadly for some. Each year, some babies are exposed to viruses their immune systems can’t handle. By getting vaccinated you help protect future generations by keeping them safe at birth.
Immunizations can save your child’s life: with current research, there are more protective vaccines than ever to provide you and your children with the resistance your immune system needs to stay safe throughout the year. Some diseases that were once deadly can now be prevented from very young ages. Talk with your health care provider about age ranges for vaccines that are affecting your community.
Vaccines are incredibly safe and effective: Vaccines are highly researched and tested before being given to the public and are ensured to be highly effective and safe for all people. The temporary discomfort you feel from getting a shot is worth the benefit of being protected for the duration of the vaccine cycle.
Immunizations can save your family time and money: many schools require children to be vaccinated upon entry. By making sure your children are up to date you save time that you would have to spend finding last-minute appointments and may cause you or another family to take off work. Staying up to date on vaccines provides the assurance that you know the time frames for when to get vaccinated are current and that there is coverage for families of all income levels to receive the most recent vaccines.

History of Vaccines for School-Age Children

Schools have not always been as sanitary as they are able to be today. Schooling in farmhouses, community buildings, sheds, and houses provided that entire neighborhoods of children would come together to be educated by the designated community educators. In the late 19th century things weren’t understood more than the term “miasma,” which meant people believed that decaying things were what caused an infection. Classrooms were filled with as many kids as they could manage, which proved to be a breeding ground for contagious viruses at that time. Polio and other diseases ran rampant on school grounds which meant families became worried about the health of their loved wants and started to push the government to assist them in community safety.

Community members began to organize around vaccine safety in schools as early as the 1850s which led to many advancements in school health safety and programming. These organizing efforts started in Massachusetts where teachers started requiring vaccination of the children at their schools and they refused to interact with infected children. in 1922 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Zucht v. King which meant schools have the right to protect public health within the school by asking families to vaccinate their children. Covid-19 vaccinations are being offered for younger and younger ages and each state has guidelines for how to make sure your children are taking proper precautions per the number of cases in your state. Stay informed so that you and your family can make the best decisions about your vaccinations and boosters available in your area.

Why Are Vaccines Important in Schools?

Vaccinations are essential to keep schools running and protect all the children’s immune systems. Updated vaccinations can not only prevent your children from encountering viruses that are spread amongst groups, but it also helps the greater community to be protected overall. If everyone makes sure their children are up to date on their shots it helps there from being outbreaks during cold and flu season. Many vaccines can be done by the age of 6 and can also be done yearly, so make sure to talk to your health provider about reoccurring immunizations. Many schools won’t let your child start school til you have proof of vaccination so keeping those records is helpful at the beginning of each school year.

COVID-19 Immunization Resources

Visit the CDC website at cdc.gov where you can find a multitude of Covid-19 vaccine resources in the city you live. Everywhere in the country has locations where you can get your immunization for the Covid-19 virus. Walgreens, grocery stores, local schools, and many other state-run facilities are donating their spaces so that the community can have areas for people to get vaccinated. Check-in with your health care provider if you have questions about the vaccine and where to get it. Doctors highly recommend getting the vaccine as soon as you are able to help the spread of Covid-19 in your community.

Vaccine Benefits and Risks

Since we understand that vaccines are medications, we also realize there are benefits and risks to all medications. For many people, no symptoms exist but for some, there may be soreness at the injection point or a slight fever. However, any symptoms that occur are far milder than the risk of getting any of the continuously evolving Covid-19 strains without prior vaccination.

Vaccine Overview:

While many of us have received vaccines as a child or have had them administered to our children, it is important to understand what they are and the diseases associated with the immunizations. Here’s a brief overview of the diseases and infections the recommended vaccines introduce immunities to:

Chickenpox (varicella): Potentially the most known illness on the vaccine list, chickenpox was an illness that most children contracted as little as 20 years ago. It can prove life-threatening in babies, children, and anyone with a weakened immune system. Fever, rashes and itchy blisters, and tiredness occur when someone has contracted chickenpox.

Polio (IPV): This illness can cause paralysis and death as the virus attacks the brain and spinal cord. It is very contagious to those without exposure, and the vaccine proves highly effective in introducing immunity to the virus.

MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella):

Measles can be fatal, with other effects such as pneumonia, brain damage, and hearing loss. Generally, this disease will cause a fever, red eyes, runny nose, cough, and an identifiable rash.

Mumps, while typically not severe in most cases, can progress past a swollen jaw and salivary glands to more serious conditions like meningitis, loss of hearing, and swelling of the brain, testicles, ovaries, and breasts. Usually, mumps begins with symptoms of headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, and a fever.

Rubella can produce symptoms similar to a rash but primarily affects pregnant women. It can cause birth defects during development or miscarriage. Many people don’t notice any symptoms but are contagious to others once contracted.

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP):

Diphtheria produces a covering on the back of the throat or nasal passages which can make it very difficult to breathe. It can cause many life-threatening circumstances or conditions, like paralysis or heart failure.

Tetanus is a more commonly known infection that can easily occur in many different situations. The complications from contracting tetanus can be lockjaw and stiffness in the body.

Pertussis is commonly known as whooping cough - a severe and uncontrolled cough that is persistent, highly contagious, makes it difficult to breathe and often proves fatal for infants.

Hepatitis A

Hep A is a liver disease that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes along with vomiting, exhaustion, fever, stomach pain, and dark urine. Sometimes children who have the disease do not present any outright symptoms but are contagious to others who are susceptible.

Hepatitis B

Hep B is also a liver disease but causes swelling of the organ which can present other conditions and challenges throughout life. Pregnant women who have Hepatitis B will typically pass the disease to the baby, which will usually result in the child contracting the disease chronically.

Rotavirus

While the more severe symptoms of Rotavirus are not common in adults, infants and children are the most likely to contract the disease. It typically requires hospitalization and causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain.

Pneumococcal

There are many different types of Pneumococcal bacteria that can cause different diseases like meningitis or pneumonia. These vaccines might be recommended by your doctor, so check with your medical provider to learn about whether you or your child should receive this immunization.

Flu & Type B (Hib)

The flu can present serious symptoms that can cause more infection or chronic infection after the illness occurs. Pregnant women are more susceptible to contracting the flu. Type B (Hib) can present a range of illnesses or infections, from an ear infection or pneumonia to meningitis, and brain damage, and sometimes can be fatal.

Resources in Southern Nevada

While your pediatrician or doctor is your best source for information and recommendations specific to your family, there are a number of resources throughout Southern Nevada that could help with immunizations. You can learn more about Nevada’s program for immunizations and the requirements in our state through the NV Division of Public & Behavioral Health.

Resources in Northern Nevada

There are vaccine clinics at schools in Vegas and Reno so that students can be up to date on their Covid-19 vaccines before the school year starts. You can also read a weekly booster bulletin that gives immunization updates for Covid-19. Here you can stay up to date with the news for the Northern Nevada area and share it with your family.

Go to immunizenevada.org to stay up to date about vaccination resources for Northern Nevada.

For more information about recommended vaccine schedules and the prevention of illnesses, check out the CDC’s resource for more details: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/growing/images/global/CDC-Growing-Up-with-Vaccines.pdf