Health officials urge infant vaccinations
During the height of the pandemic, some mid-michigan children missed wellness checks and vaccinations, leading to increases in cases of some diseases, including measles and chickenpox.
To help keep young children healthy, the Central Michigan District Health Department, which serves six mid-michigan counties including Clare and Isabella, is actively promoting National Infant Immunization Week, which starts today.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect ourselves and our loved ones from potential outbreaks of diseases like measles,” said physician Jennifer Morse, CMDHD medical director. “These illnesses can cause serious complications and even death.
“Vaccinations can provide lifelong protection without these risks.”
National Infant Immunization Week’s goal is to raise awareness about the importance of protecting children 2 years old and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases, and immunizations are one of the most safe and effective tools available to keep children and the community healthy, Morse said.
With missed vaccinations during the pandemic being responsible for increases in vaccine-preventable disease, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine schedule is useful for finding out if a child is missing any routine shots; in general, children should have the following immunizations by their second birthday:
• Hep A (Hepatitis A): Guards against the viral liver disease that’s administered in two doses; first at 12 to 23 months and six to eight months later.
• Hep B (Hepatitis B): Given shortly after birth, then at 1 to 2 months, then six to 18 months later.
• Hib (Hemophilus influenza type B): Hib disease can cause meningitis and other infections, and is given at 2, 4 and 6 years, and 12 to 15 months.
• IPV (Polio): Polio is a highly contagious viral illness and the vaccine is given at 2, 4, and 6 to 18 months, and at 4 to 6 years old.
• Dtap (Diptheria, tetanus and pertussis): This is given at 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months, and at 4 to 6 years old.
• MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella): Given at 12 to 15 months, and 4 to 6 years old.
• PCV15 (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine): Guards against pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections, and is given at 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 18 months.
• Rotavirus: A common cause of severe diarrhea and dehydration in young children and is given at 2, 4 and 6 months.
• RSV, COVID-19, and seasonal flu.
• Varicella (Chickenpox): Administered at 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years old.
The personal health department at CMDHD offers routine childhood and adult immunizations at walk-in clinics and by appointment.
To learn more about the health department’s child immunizations, go to https://www.cmdhd.org/ countyimmunizations
A list of walk-in clinics and contact numbers for each health department branch office is available at https://www. cmdhd.org/countyimmunizations
Parents, caregivers and health care providers must work together to promote vaccination as a safe way to keep everyone in the community protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, Morse said.
More information about infant and child immunizations can be found online at www.ivaccinate. org, www.cdc.gov/vaccines and www.vaccineinformation.org