As a parent, you’re invested a lot in your child’s health and well-being. In recent years, childhood vaccination has become a hot topic among parents and physicians. It’s understandable to have questions and concerns.
Many parents bring vaccine questions up at pediatric appointments. When you have the answers to your most pressing questions, you can make informed choices about your child’s health.
Pediatric vaccines are essential for preventing certain diseases and reducing the severity of symptoms. It’s wise to look at what the science says before your child’s next appointment with a pediatrician.
The Science Behind Childhood Vaccinations: Why They’re So Important
It’s been almost a century since pediatricians began recommending childhood vaccines. These recommendations started in the 1930s for preventable diseases like whooping cough and smallpox.
Why is it so important to get your little one vaccinated? Here’s what you should know.
How Vaccines Work to Prevent Diseases
Vaccines work with the human immune system to help it recognize certain illnesses in advance. This ensures that if and when a child is exposed to a real threat, their immune system knows how to deal with it effectively.
Every vaccine contains a deactivated version of the disease it’s intended to prevent. For example, influenza vaccines contain inactive strains of the flu. These strains can’t make your child sick, but they do introduce their immune system to specific antigens, or markers of disease.
Antigens are what trigger your child’s immune response when they’re sick. The body recognizes antigens as foreign threats and revs up the immune system to deal with them.
Immunization Protects Children From Severe Symptoms and Death
Once a child has been vaccinated, their body can better deal with a particular illness, which can either prevent them from getting sick altogether or reduce the severity of their symptoms. Immunization has even been shown to prevent deaths from certain illnesses, especially in babies and young children.
The Lifelong Benefits of Getting Your Child Vaccinated Against Preventable Diseases
The benefits of pediatric vaccines range from increasing your child’s general well-being to preventing their death. Some diseases can cause lifelong health complications, and vaccination helps recipients avoid these long-term issues, starting in childhood.
Reducing the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Certain viruses, like influenza and RSV, can increase your child’s risk of developing cardiovascular problems when they’re older. In medically complex children, the risk is even higher.
Viral infections trigger inflammatory responses in the body, which can damage blood vessels, arteries, and veins. That damage can extend into the child’s later years, making them more vulnerable to complications like stroke, heart attack, and circulation issues.
Vaccines decrease the severity of viral infections, which can help stave off long-term complications and keep your child healthier as an adult.
Preventing Virus Reactivation
With certain preventable illnesses like chickenpox, the virus never leaves the child’s system. Later in life, the chickenpox virus can reemerge and cause shingles.
Not only is shingles uncomfortable, but it can also increase the risk of dementia and other cognitive problems as an older adult. Since pediatric vaccination prevents your child from catching the virus in the first place, it will also prevent them from suffering these complications.
Fighting Against Respiratory Damage
Severe respiratory infections during childhood can cause lasting damage to your child’s respiratory system.
Your child could be at risk of developing breathing issues, severe asthma, and increased susceptibility to new infections, as well as long-term diseases like COPD. If you suspect that your child has any of these conditions, see a pediatric pulmonologist for long-term care.
Babies are particularly vulnerable to RSV complications. Their bodies haven’t fully developed defenses against illness yet, and the consequences can be serious. Vaccination safely introduces the virus to their immune system to prevent catastrophic outcomes.
Parent Q&A: Answers to Common Questions About Pediatric Vaccines
It’s normal to have questions about childhood vaccination. Here’s what pediatricians across the country have to say about immunizations and their importance during your child’s formative years.
Does My Child Really Need to Be Vaccinated?
While the decision is ultimately up to you, a dozen or more national medical organizations support childhood vaccines. Most pediatricians recommend vaccines starting at six months of age.
Are Vaccines Safe for Babies and Children?
Yes. Approved vaccines are rigorously tested and determined to be safe for babies and children before they’re released.
The science is clear: Vaccination is safe and prevents health complications and tragic outcomes. Vaccinating your child according to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recommended schedule could prevent dangerous health complications, lifelong disability, or premature death.
Which Vaccines Should My Child Get Every Year?
Each year, the AAP recommends that children get the latest influenza shot and a COVID-19 booster. These illnesses evolve over time, and medical researchers work to develop vaccines that fight against the latest viral strains.
Why Is the CDC Vaccine Schedule Different From the AAP’s This Year?
The CDC has removed certain childhood vaccines from its recommended schedule, while the AAP has kept the schedule mostly the same as in prior years.
According to the AAP and the American Medical Association (AMA), the additional vaccines are still highly important and provide the best defense against dangerous childhood illnesses. The AAP follows strict medical guidelines and hasn’t found any credible evidence that the removed vaccines pose a safety risk to children.
Are Vaccines Covered by Health Insurance?
Yes. Most health insurance plans cover 100% of the cost of each childhood vaccination. Check your plan for the most up-to-date information.
What Are the Risks of Childhood Vaccinations?
Adverse effects from childhood vaccinations are extremely rare. Some of the uncommon risks include allergic reactions to specific vaccine ingredients, mild fevers, mild rashes, and soreness at the injection site. Consult your pediatrician to determine whether your child is considered “at risk.”
Visit Newport Children’s Medical Group for Reliable Pediatric Care
Guidance from a knowledgeable pediatrician can spare your child certain health struggles later on. If you have more questions about vaccines or want to get your child immunized, Newport Children’s Medical Group is here for you.
We make it a priority to establish lasting relationships with the patients in our care. Our pediatricians can answer all of your vaccination questions and advise you on how to help your child thrive as they develop. Schedule your child’s appointment today.