The excitement of a new school year unfolds each year as families crowd the aisles of big stores to buy school supplies, stick extracurricular activity schedules on the refrigerator, and organize carpools with friends.
Common to all families is the desire for children to stay healthy, active, and ready to learn.
To prepare children and adolescents to be at their best – physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally – the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends regular visits to the pediatrician, as well as immunizations that help keep all family members healthy. Recent outbreaks of measles, a highly contagious disease, have shown how quickly some infectious diseases can spread within a community.
“The best way to strengthen a child’s immune system and keep them healthy is by vaccinating them,” said pediatrician Dr. David M. Higgins. “A disease like measles can keep children home and away from school and activities for days. Immunizations allow children to enjoy learning, playing, and gathering with friends and family.”
As of June 13, 2024, a total of 151 cases of measles in the U.S. have been reported so far this year in 21 different states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These recent outbreaks of measles have affected unvaccinated individuals. Choosing not to vaccinate your children not only leaves them susceptible to measles but also exposes other children to this potentially serious disease. This includes babies who are too young to be vaccinated and those who cannot be vaccinated due to other health conditions.
“Everyone in our community deserves to be healthy, and part of being healthy means getting vaccinated against all diseases, including influenza and COVID-19 and, if eligible, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It benefits all of us if every child in our community is vaccinated because it means we are all more likely to stay healthy,” says Dr. Higgins.
Families can also help prevent the spread of infections by encouraging children to wash their hands throughout the day. Help or remind them to wash their hands:
Before eating (including snacks)
• After using the bathroom
• Whenever they come in from playing outside
• After touching an animal, such as a family pet
• After sneezing or coughing if they cover their mouth
• When someone in the house is sick
The AAP recommends immunizing all children and adolescents according to its policy, Recommended Immunization Schedules for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger, United States. More information can be found at healthychildren.org.
“Your pediatrician can answer any questions about recommended vaccines and when your child needs them,” said Dr. Higgins. “There is a schedule for the recommended timing because that is when research has shown they are most effective during a child’s development.”
Source: State Point