Health Sponsored content Debunking vaccination myths as students head back to school Doctors say children should get all recommended vaccinations before the first Bought to you by Kaise Pemane s the sehool year approaches and parents think about whether to vaecinate their children, the science and medical communities have one resounding message Vaccines are not considered to be dangerous. The merican Academy of pediatries recommends children be immanized against 16 diseases," said Dr. Patricia Dietagen, Family Medicine Physician at Kaiser Perma mente's Frisco Medical Oflices. While many vaecine-preventable diseases are rare in the United States, they can be brought into the country and put unvaccinated children at risk, according to the It's a small world: disease travels very easily" Dietzgen aid. "If people stop vaccinating, serious disease will rapidly return, patting many people at unneeessary risk. Due to a concerted effort, not just in the US. but worldwide, we have been able to lessen the frequency nd severity of lie threatening illness VACCINE HESITANCY When parents have access to information about vaccines and to vaccine experts, their attitodes improve about vaccinating their children, ac- cording to a Kalser Permanente study pablished in May in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. le is ceetainly understandable that some parents have concerns about vaceinating their chldren because there is lot of misinformation out there, especially on social media platfoems. It is elear there is a need to address parents concerns in a convenient, user-friendly forum that they trust,said Matthew E. Daley, MD, senior in vestigator at the Kaiser Permmanente Colorado Institute or Health Research The American Academy of pediatrics recommends children be immunized against 16 diveases. aeeurate online clinieal VACCINES FOR CHILDREN Vaccines are the safest, best-studied and most effective medications that exist,acconding to Kalser Permanente There are vaccines recommended for children throughout their development, including the following Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis Haemophilus Influenzalb The study team created a website that presenterd information on the risks andbee- Measles mumps and rubella Meningococcal corugte Pmeumococcal conjugate vaccine its of vaecination, reconsmended vaceination schedules, vaccine ingredients and vaccine laws, A social media omponent also included an expert-moderated blog. discussion forum, chat room and an "Ask a Question portal where parents could ask experts about vaccines Parests who were hesitant about vaccinating their of the common reasons parents don't want to vaccinate children had a sigaiticant reduction in concerns after their children is that the diseases are rare in this coun access to these tools Leaving a child unimmunized makes them more vulnerable to catching serious ilness. Consult with your child's school or your doctor to determine which vaccinations they should receive before classes begin. STICKING TO A PLAN Vaccination scheduling is carefully planned to coincide try, but she said that argument "simply testifies to the faet that vaceines are effective Vaccines can eause minor side effects sueh as redness with the time in which the body will moust an immune response to the vaceine, as well as the earliest possible time the vaccine can safely protet children from dis- RISKS ARE MINOR eases, Dietzgen said A small study once suggested that the MMR vaccine- and swelling where the shot was given, but often go build i ased to proteet children against measles, mumps and away in a few days, according to the CDC rabella - could lead to autism, but Dietagen noted that "Leaving a child unimmunized makes them more As children get older, there may be a wider window of whrn a vaecination is due, but Garton recommendis was later retracted by its author vulnerable to catching serious iliness Dietzgen said getting them done in the fall when fiu shots are also re no scientifie studies that show childrenWe foret that not that long ago, children died from whooping eough, measles, meningitis, or were left with serious crippling effects. These are now rare thanks to a can't tolerate vaccines at such early ages. A Kaiser Permanente study pablished in the Joarnal of the American Medical Association earlier this year reported immanizations, but they have not been eradicated. hat infants who receive maltiple vaceines as part of the Before a vaccine is approved by t roatine vaccination schedale are unlikely to be more studies on safety and effeetiveness of the vaceine are hygiene. Ifa child shows symptoms of iliness, parents saseeptible to other infections sot targeted by those evaluated by highly trained FDA seientists and doctors, should keep them home from school to proteet other vaccines in the two years following vaccination Dr. Shannon Garton, Family Medicine Physician at Kai sites where vaccines are made to make sure they follow "We are all in this together, so give the gift of health er Permanente's Edwards Medieal Oflices, said some stiet manufacturing guidelines In addition to vaceinating, Dietzgen said children should try to stay bealthy during the sehool year by the FDA, "results ofahing their hands frequently and praeticing good according to the CDC's website. "FDA also inspects the children, Garton said and do not send your sick ehild to sehool," she said.. thrive KAISER PERMANENTE