Immunization protection against infectious diseases: A Wisconsin perspective

Immunizations are as important today as ever before!  Opinion echoed in stereo by me as a Registered Nurse.  This opinion was published in the Sheboygan Press Wisconsin newspaper 

Immunizations against infectious diseases and being immunized today are just as important as it when vaccines were introduced, because vaccine preventable diseases have not gone away. 

Although the U.S. has a very low rate of vaccine preventable diseases, this is not true throughout the rest of the world. Only one disease, smallpox, has been totally erased from the planet. Polio no longer occurs in the U.S., but it is still paralyzing children in other countries.

In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. However, some families began declining to vaccinate their children against measles. This made them at risk to getting the disease when exposed to others. Measles can spread easily to other people. Unvaccinated people traveling to foreign countries can bring back disease to their own communities. In 2011, 90 percent of the measles cases in the U.S. were linked to cases imported from another country. The fact that most Americans are immunized against measles is the only thing that prevented these cases from becoming epidemics.

Whooping cough

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, continues to be present in Sheboygan County. In 2014, 33 reports of whooping cough were investigated. Newborns and young children are the most at risk for severe illness and hospitalization if they get whooping cough, as their airways are small and their immune systems not mature. Newborns do get protective immunity if their mothers get the Tdap vaccine during the third trimester of their pregnancy. This immunity will carry on until they are able to get their own vaccines. Adults who care for these young children and grandchildren can give protection by also getting the adult whooping cough vaccine.

Immunizing people will help to protect the health of our community, especially those people who cannot be immunized (children who are too young to be vaccinated, or those who can't get certain vaccines for a medical reason), and the small proportion of people who don't respond to a certain vaccine.

Safety

Vaccines are made with the highest standard of safety. The U.S. now has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history. Years of testing are required before a vaccine can be licensed. Once in use, vaccines are continually checked for safety and effectiveness. Still, like any medication, vaccines can cause reactions like fever, redness or aches at the site of injection.

Before getting vaccines, families get information from many sources. It is important to remember that not all information found on the Internet is accurate or science-based. Talking with their health care providers about any questions and concerns is helpful to address their individual needs. Other sources of accurate information are the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). These resources focus on research about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.

Health care providers in Sheboygan County (Wisconsin) are committed to quality care by providing families with factual information regarding immunizations. 

In fact, the only way to end vaccine preventable disease is to vaccinate children and adults.

Joyce Osieczanek and Cindy Vander Weele are co-chairs of the Sheboygan County Immunization Coalition. The coalition's mission is to establish a network of health care partners who share the common interest of identifying ways to remove barriers to receiving vaccines and to increase the immunization levels of children and adults in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.