CNN Health (October 3, 2011) reported recently that a new study finds that “28% of parents following the CDC-recommended schedule for childhood vaccinations think it would be safer to delay the shots until children are older.”

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, confirms that “about 2% of parents living in the United States are refusing all vaccines for their children, and more than one in 10 alter the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended vaccination schedule by delaying or refusing certain vaccines.”

The study does not state the reasons that more parents are refusing to vaccinate their children, but it does make the point that one possible reason is that today’s parents have forgotten what the diseases are that their children are being vaccinated for, because these diseases have been largely eradicated by — vaccines. The article does point out some of the very serious results of refusing inoculations.

Using measles as an example, the article makes this case:

Not only do unvaccinated children run the risk of becoming ill or worse, but they also endanger others who don’t have the option to vaccinate. Globally, measles still is a leading cause of death among children, killing an estimated 450 people every day, according to the World Health Organization.

This year has seen more cases of measles than any year since 1996. As of August, there have been 198 confirmed cases in the United States, according to the CDC, with the vast majority among the unvaccinated. Usually the transmission comes from traveling abroad.

What are the CDC Vaccination Recommendations?

Children Birth-6 years
During the early years of life, it is recommended that children get vaccines to protect them from 14 diseases that can be serious, even life-threatening.
Parents can find out what vaccines their children need and when the doses should be given by reviewing the nationally recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule.

Children and Teens 7-18 years
Older children need vaccines, too. Everyone older than 6 months of age is recommended to receive a yearly flu vaccination. In addition to an annual flu shot, parents should work with their health care professional to make sure that their older children stay current. As they get older, children may become more susceptible to certain diseases, like meningitis. Also, as children age, vaccines wear off, like whooping cough, and standards change as research evolves.
It is best to keep all shot records on hand, and just check in once a year. The CDC provides an immunization schedule for people ages 7 through 18 years for parents and doctors to protect children and teens from vaccine-preventable disease.

Adults
Immunizations are NOT just for kids. Whether a young adult, middle-aged adult or senior citizen, everyone needs immunizations to keep healthy.
The specific immunizations needed as an adult are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, high-risk conditions, type and locations of travel, and previous immunizations.
As with teenagers, some vaccines wear off and need to be repeated, like tetanus. In addition, recommendations change based on current research. Also, new vaccines come onto the market, like the HPV vaccine. So, it’s important to know which shots you need and when to get them.

Listed below are links to the immunization schedules from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for all ages:
• Childhood Schedule: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm
• Adolescent Schedule: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm#printable
• Adult Schedule: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/adult-schedule.htm

Not sure? To find out if you or your family members are due for a vaccination, take the CDC’s interactive quiz below.
Take the Interactive Vaccination Quiz

How can WhiteGlove Health help? WhiteGlove Health can help you with your vaccinations and with tracking who needs what when. We will come to your home or office to administer vaccines, 365 days a year, 8 am til 8 pm. And because you have 24 hour access to your online health record, never again will you have to wrack your brain trying to recall if and when you had that last tetanus shot.

So keep current, keep healthy and relax. WhiteGlove will come to you to help you with your vaccine needs.