Blunt urging parents to make sure children are immunized

Recently, questions have been raised on whether vaccinations contribute to children developing autism and other health problems. However, Missouri leaders and other health professionals are urging parents to remember that the benefits of vaccinating healthy children far outweigh the rare risks that have been associated with the act.

"As parents, we all want the very best for our children," Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt said. "One of the best ways to ensure our children stay healthy and well is to ensure their immunizations are complete and up-to-date. Immunizations protect our children from 14 serious and life-threatening diseases and, by vaccinating each child, we also help protect entire communities by limiting the spread of infectious diseases."

With that in mind, Blunt is focusing on the upcoming National Infant Immunization Week to be celebrated April 19-26. Now is a goodtime, according to Blunt, to schedule an appointment with your child's pediatrician for your child's immunizations.

"Vaccines are one of history's greatest success stories and one of our most effective public health tools for preventing serious disease and death," said Jane Drummond, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. "By making vaccines readily accessible and affordable, we have completely eliminated the historical scourge of smallpox and polio is under control in most parts of the world. Diseases that were once common, such as measles, mumps, whooping cough, diphtheria, and rubella are now only distant memories for most Americans. But these diseases are still a threat, so with the success comes responsibility for keeping these diseases at bay by ensuring that our children are fully immunized and kept up-to-date on their vaccinations."

Drummond said that vaccination rates in Missouri are above the national averages, with about 96 percent of Missouri kindergarteners and 80 percent of all children under three years old being current on recommended immunizations. She added, however, that thousands of Missouri children are still living without protection against very serious diseases.

Dr. Jay Hoecker, M.D., a specialist with the Mayo Clinic, states on the clinic's Web site that early vaccinations are essential because the very young are at the greatest risk for serious or potentially fatal diseases.

"If we wait to vaccinate until a child is older, it may be too late," said Hoecker.

In the U.S., each state has its own vaccination requirements that must be met before a child can enter school. All 50 states, according to the clinic Web site, have exemptions for medical reasons and most states have exemption clauses for parents who choose not to vaccinate their children due to religious beliefs.

"Some states also allow for exemptions for personal beliefs," Hoecker said. "Parents who choose not to vaccinate their children must usually sign a waiver of responsibility."

And Hoecker said that the link between autism and vaccinations has not been medically proven and in fact is just considered coincidence.

"Researchers haven't found a connection between autism and childhood vaccines," said Hoecker. "Although signs of autism may appear at about the same time children receive certain vaccines -- such as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine -- this is simply a coincidence.

"In general, skipping vaccines isn't a good idea," Hoecker continued. "This can leave your child vulnerable to potentially serious diseases that could otherwise be avoided. If you have reservations about particular vaccines, discuss your concerns with your child's doctor."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) second both Blunt and Hoecker's advise to parents.

According to the CDC, vaccines are held to the highest standard of safety. The United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history. Years of testing are required by law before a vaccine can be licensed. Once in use, vaccines are continually monitored for safety and efficacy.

The CDC Web site goes on to state immunizations, like any medication, can cause side effects. However, a decision not to immunize a child also involves risk. It is a decision to put the child and others who come into contact with him or her at risk of contracting a disease that could be dangerous or deadly.

One example used by the Web site is measles. One out of 30 children with measles develops pneumonia. For every 1,000 children who get the disease, one or two will die from it.

Thanks to vaccines, there are few cases of measles in the U.S. today. However, the disease is extremely contagious, and each year dozens of cases are imported from abroad into the U.S., threatening the health of people who have not been vaccinated and those for whom the vaccine was not effective.

"Protecting our children, families and communities through immunizations is a shared responsibility," Gov. Blunt said. "Missouri citizens, health care providers and public health professionals must all work together to ensure that the importance of immunizations is made clear and that vaccinations that help guard all of us from the threat of disease are made available to every Missouri child. National Infant Immunization Week is the perfect time to reinforce that message."

For more information, visit www.dhss.mo.gov/Immunizations. To find out if a child may be eligible to get free vaccines through the Missouri Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, call the Missouri Immunization program at 1-800-219-3224.

National Infant Immunization Week is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities.

Visit the Mayo Clinic Web site at www.mayoclinic.com or the CDC at www.cdc.gov.

Sacha Champion may be reached via e-mail at schampion@dailystatesman.com