Vaccine importance highlighted during National Infant Immunization Week

Bowling Green (April 25, 2011) - Vaccines are part of a healthy life for your child.  You make decisions that impact your child’s future every day.  Vaccines are the most effective way to protect your child from life-threatening illnesses.  It’s your choice.  Get the facts. 

We know it’s hard to watch your child get a vaccination, but you are making the right decision to protect their health, and the health of our community.  Vaccinating your child protects not only your child, but also those who are too young or too sick to be vaccinated.  A vaccine can only work when it’s used.  Diseases spread faster in communities with higher percentages of unvaccinated people.  The more people that are vaccinated, the less likely a disease can move from person to person.  This is called “community” immunity.

As health care providers and officials, we are parents too, and we vaccinated our children, and ourselves.  Vaccine preventable diseases are still a threat – that is why we want you to vaccinate.  There are outbreaks of measles, whooping cough, and other preventable diseases all around the United States.  We live in a global society.  These diseases still proliferate in other countries and are often just a plane ride away from our children.   

For more information on vaccines, visit our website at www.co.wood.oh.us/healthdepartment or talk to your health care provider.  Immunization appointments are now available at Wood County Health Department.  Please call 419-354-5556 or 419-352-8402 to set an appointment (walk-ins are also welcome).

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities. Since 1994, NIIW has served as a call to action for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to ensure that infants are fully immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2011, NIIW is observed April 23-30.

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Revised: 10/12/11 20:48:49 -0700.