As summer winds down and fall approaches, families across Attala County are resuming the school routine.
Before school starts it is important to make sure your children are up-to-date on vaccines.
“School-age children, from preschoolers to college students, need vaccines,” according to a release from the Center of Disease Control.” “Making sure that children receive all their vaccinations on time is one of the most important things you can do as a parent to ensure your children's long-term health—as well as the health of friends, classmates, and others in your community.”
To keep children in schools healthy, the state of Mississippi requires all children enrolling in any public or private school to be vaccinated for certain diseases, such as pertussis (whooping cough). Other required vaccinations include for Polio, Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Chickenpox.
It's true that some vaccine-preventable diseases have become very rare thanks to vaccines. However, cases and outbreaks still happen. The United States experienced a record number of measles cases during 2014, with 668 cases from 27 states reported to CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). This is the greatest number of cases since measles elimination was documented in the U.S. in 2000.
Outbreaks of whooping cough at middle and high schools can occur as protection from childhood vaccines fades. Those who are vaccinated against whooping cough but still get the disease are much more likely to have a mild illness compared to those who never received the vaccine.
Making sure your children stay up to date with vaccinations is the best way to protect your communities and schools from outbreaks that can cause unnecessary illnesses and deaths.
Getting every recommended dose of each vaccine provides children with the best protection possible.
Keep in mind that there are many opportunities to catch up on vaccines for your preteen or teen. Preteens and teens typically see their doctors or other health care professionals for physicals before participation in sports, camping events, travel and applying to college. Beat the back to school rush and use these opportunities to get your student vaccinated beforehand.
