In 1796, a medical provider named Edward Jenner observed that patients who were infected with cowpox, a milder form of smallpox, were immune to smallpox. He inoculated a 9-year-old boy with matter taken from a lesion of a woman suffering from cowpox. As a result, the boy became immune to smallpox, a disease that killed 3 out of 10 infected people.
Vaccines today largely work by using the same mechanism. This means injecting weakened or dead viral matter to teach the immune system to fight the more dangerous versions.
Immunizations are one of the most important ways to ensure your child is safe, as there are rarely reasons not to get vaccinated. Severe allergies to the ingredients used in vaccines are very rare.
Because there has been a lot of controversy surrounding vaccines, especially during the last few years, our providers at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma in Claremore, Oklahoma, took their time to go over some of the facts and myths about vaccinations.
Due to high vaccination rates for a number of conditions, such as polio, it’s rarer for people to get sick from certain viruses and bacteria. However, this can give a false impression that many dangerous conditions have disappeared.
While many illnesses have declined dramatically, the viruses and bacteria haven’t gone away. So, if your child is unvaccinated and comes into contact with a person who has a virus, your child can get infected. Consequently, it’s still important that your child get vaccinated.
There’s no clinical evidence that shows that toddlers are more likely to experience side effects from vaccines compared to older children. In fact, being exposed to dangerous viruses while being unvaccinated is far more dangerous.
According to the schedule put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a child should have quite a few vaccines in their first few months.
Breastfeeding can offer some protection, but the protection is temporary. Furthermore, if your child is exposed to large quantities of germs, what they get through your breast milk may not be enough to help them.
In addition, experts say the quality of breastmilk has been decreasing during the past few decades due to exposure to environmental pollutants.
Vaccinations save lives in any age group, but this is particularly true for young children. The immune system of a child is still developing, as it hasn’t been exposed to as many germs and bacteria as the immune system of an adult.
This makes it crucial that children get vaccinated. Getting vaccines for your child can help boost their immune system, so they can have a better chance of fighting off potentially deadly diseases.
Vaccinations are tested for safety and have been used for decades to prevent diseases. Keep your child protected by ensuring their immunizations are up to date. Many conditions associated with not being vaccinated can cause long-term damage and even death.
To make sure your child is up to date on their vaccination schedule, call 918-283-4660 or book an appointment online with Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma today.
