IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH IS TIME TO CHECK YOUR VACCINATIONS Q: How effective are vaccines? A:
Today, vaccines are 90 percent to 99 percent effective in protecting children and teenagers from 16 diseases, including polio, influenza and chickenpox. The best prevention method for multiple common diseases is vaccination, not only in children, but people of all ages, including pregnant women. If you have a child 6 or younger, it’s recommended and may even be required for them to be vaccinated and have records. Your primary care physician will be able to tell you your child’s immunization schedule as well as recommend vaccinations for teenagers, adults and pregnant women. Since August is National Immunization Awareness Month, it’s recommended that you visit your primary care physician for a wellness check and to discuss what vaccinations you and your family may need.
Q: What’s the main reason to receive vaccinations?
A:
Immunization helps prevent dangerous and sometimes deadly diseases. For example, one in four Americans — about 79 million people — currently are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), and another 14 million will become newly infected each year. This disease infects both men and women, and can cause cervical cancer in women. However, with proper immunization, cases of HPV decreased 56 percent in teenage females from 2006 to 2013.
Q: How often do you recommend a wellness check?
A:
Annually. Wellness checks focus on prevention, which is important in protecting your overall health, as well as help monitor health issues such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and obesity. Having a wellness check now, as school starts, also is a great way for your child to be checked for any conditions before participating in extracurricular activities.