Experts say keeping children vaccinated in a timely manner is essential to keeping them healthy.
However, studies show only 9 percent of children receive age-appropriate vaccinations at the recommended times. Now is a good time to see if your kids are up to date.
"Your child may be exposed to unvaccinated or undervaccinated children in school or at day care," says Judy Meehan, executive director of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB). "With every child who has incomplete immunizations, the risk of spreading illness to other children and to the entire community increases. So finishing vaccinations that come in a series is crucial. So is catching up if your child falls behind on immunizations."
Experts say children with incomplete vaccinations risk spreading illnesses to other children and the community.
"Don't wait to get caught up," says Meehan. "Every day you wait is another day your child goes unprotected."
To get the best protection for your children, make sure they are immunized on schedule.
The recommended immunization and catch-up schedule can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site, www2a.cdc.gov/nip/scheduler_le/default.asp, or by calling (800) 232-4636 (English or Spanish). This easy-to-use schedule identifies the recommended vaccines, the number of doses required and the ages when they are given. |
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