At birth, we were immune to certain diseases because of the disease-fighting antibodies we received from our mothers. We may have received more antibodies via breast milk, but, like most everything else, those antibodies only last so long. The fact is that, in order to really be immune, children need to be vaccinated.

Vaccinations help protect children from chicken pox, polio and other serious diseases. Most vaccines contain a weakened or dead form of the organism that causes the disease. Others contain inactivated chemicals produced by the disease-causing bacteria. After getting the vaccine, a child’s body develops antibodies that fight the weakened form of the disease. These antibodies then continue to protect the child from the real disease germs.

“Why vaccinate? The ‘Why?’ is always that the disease is worth preventing,” says Robert Brown, M.D., chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. “It causes debility and/or death in enough people that the disease needs to be eradicated.”

Unfortunately, a recent study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that more than a quarter of American toddlers may be under-vaccinated. The study also shows that mis-timed doses are an issue. Missing or delaying immunizations put children at risk for a variety of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps and chicken pox.

“Fortunately, our vaccination rates approach 90-95 percent,” says Richard Kaplan, M.D., chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Delaware County Memorial Hospital. “The majority of toddlers who are under-vaccinated are from indigent families who seek medical care sporadically for many reasons. In some cases, it is due to parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. Luckily, this is still a minority of parents.”

One reason for lack of strict adherence to the vaccine schedule may be a fading consciousness among today's parents of what these immunizations are protecting children against. Another may be concern of side effects and media coverage.

“The most common concern parents have about vaccines is the possible side-effects,” Kaplan says. “While some vaccines can cause fever, crankiness and localized swelling, this is easily treated with Tylenol and cool compresses to the injection site. Some parents do ask if there is any association with autism but there is no medical evidence that there is any causal relationship between vaccines and the development of autism, despite what is talked about in the news media.

“The MMR [measles-mumps-German measles] vaccine was inappropriately linked to autism due to a misleading study published in Great Britain in the 1990s. The study findings have never been duplicated and the study and its authors have been discredited due to inappropriate scientific methods. As a matter of fact, the majority of the co-authors of the study have since removed their names from the study."

Some vaccines can cause side effects in some children, but the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh the risks as vaccines save the lives of many children. Talk to your pediatrician about side effects or other complications from vaccinations.

What Shots Should My Child Receive?

Your child’s doctor has a vaccination schedule developed in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics. To be most effective, vaccination should begin at birth and most of the schedule should be completed by age two. If a child has missed any shots, you may be able to work with the doctor to make sure he or she gets “caught up” and then back on schedule.

“Children who are behind on their immunizations can be ‘caught up’ by giving vaccinations at any opportune time they are in the office,” Kaplan says. “If they come in for another reason, and are not experiencing an illness that would contraindicate giving immunizations, then they can receive their shots at that time. 
Pediatricians may also elect to give multiple immunizations at one visit to catch up a child behind on their shots. Giving multiple immunizations at a visit has been proven to be safe and effective. It is most important that children be fully immunized.

“Parents can make sure their children are properly vaccinated by simply making sure their children are seen by their pediatrician or family doctor on the recommended visit schedule,” Kaplan says.

To find a Crozer-Keystone physician who’s right for you, call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258) or visit www.crozer.org.