Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives
Q: My daughter is going to start kindergarten in the fall and I was told she is required by New Mexico law to have her chickenpox vaccine to attend school. Isn’t it better for her to get the chickenpox naturally?
A: Chickenpox, or the varicella-zoster virus, is one of the previously common childhood viral infections for which there is a safe and effective vaccine.
Many of us remember the “chickenpox parties” of the past designed to hopefully afflict all the kids in a family with chickenpox at the same time instead of a prolonged course as the virus made its way through all vulnerable family members.
It is spread through contact with the lesions and through the air. While the viral infection is typically associated with a fever, itchy rash, and malaise, it can also cause severe complications and death. Common complications include bacterial infections of the skin and pneumonia. More severe complications include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), bone and joint infections, necrotizing fasciitis (a severe and sometimes fatal bacterial infection), hemorrhagic conditions, sepsis, and toxic shock syndrome.
Newborns, pregnant women and those who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of severe disease and complications.
Chickenpox cases have declined by over 97% since the initiation of the varicella vaccination program in 1995. There has also been a 94% decrease in hospitalizations and a 97% decrease in deaths in those under 50 years old.
Prior to the initiation of the varicella vaccination program, each year over 4 million people became infected, up to 13,500 people were hospitalized and up to 150 people died. Over 90% of the cases, 70% of the hospitalizations, and half of the deaths occurred in children. It is for all these reasons that the vaccine is now included in the school immunization requirements.
The measles vaccine is another example of a required vaccination for day care and school entry. Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through respiratory droplets. The virus can stay suspended in the air and infect another person for about two hours after the infected person initially coughed or sneezed.
Measles causes a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash. Complications of an infection include pneumonia, encephalitis and death. It is also associated with a long-term fatal neurological complication called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis which can occur 7 to 10 years after having recovered from the initial infection.
Measles is a serious viral infection that requires 95% of a community to be vaccinated in order to prevent spread. When vaccination rates fall below this threshold outbreaks can occur.
The varicella and measles vaccines are only two examples of very important required vaccinations.
New Mexico, along with every other state, has laws requiring children entering day care and all schools to have certain immunizations.
The purpose of the requirement is twofold: to keep kids from getting vaccine preventable diseases; and to ensure that vaccine rates in the community are high enough to confer herd immunity and protect those who cannot be vaccinated.
Fortunately, vaccines can be safely given in most instances. Two examples of when a vaccine may not be able to be given are if a person is allergic to that specific vaccine or if they have a compromised immune system.
Vaccines are a safe and effective way to keep your child healthy and to protect others around her. Vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines can be given even when your child is sick if her symptoms are mild-to-moderate in nature.
If you have any questions about vaccines or whether your child is caught up on her vaccines, please talk to your health care provider.
All New Mexico children are very fortunate to have access to the Vaccines for Children Program. According to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) website this program is “a federallyfunded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of an inability to pay.”
This program makes vaccines available to public and private vaccine providers to enable them to vaccinate all their patients. The NMDOH also has some other great programs and supports for New Mexico families.
You can access your child’s vaccine record and see if they are up to date by checking vaxviewnm. org. The NMDOH also provides free shot clinics typically in July and August to get kids ready to go back to school. Please visit nmhealth.org for more information.
Vaccines are safe and effective. Vaccines are accessible. Vaccines save lives.