August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to remind everyone they need vaccines throughout their lives.
Immunizations give parents the safe, proven power to protect their children from 14 serious and potentially deadly diseases before age two. Children who don’t receive recommended vaccines are at risk of getting the disease or illness and of having a severe case. Every dose of every vaccine is important to protect your child and others in the community from infectious diseases. Talk to your child’s doctor or other healthcare professional to make sure they are up-to-date on all the vaccines he or she needs.
Today’s childhood vaccines protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, including polio, measles, whooping cough and chickenpox. There are many important reasons to make sure your child is vaccinated:
– Vaccinations are very safe and effective.
– Immunizations protect others you care about.
– Immunizations can save your family time and money.
– Immunizations protect future generations by reducing the prevalence of serious diseases.
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to others in their family and community. Those at risk include babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions. Parents can find out more about the recommended immunization schedule at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents or www.co.polk.mn.us/publichealth, find us on Facebook @pcphealth.
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