The Safety and Importance of Childhood Vaccines

Childhood vaccines play a crucial role in protecting our children and communities from serious diseases.  They protect against illnesses like measles and meningitis, which can lead to severe, and sometimes life-threatening and debilitating health complications.  Vaccines can prevent these infectious diseases.  When a large portion of the community is vaccinated, it protects vulnerable individuals who are unable to be vaccinated,  like babies or people who are unable to be vaccinated due to a health condition.

Childhood vaccines undergo meticulous testing to ensure they are safe and effective.  The main risks associated with getting vaccines are side effects, which are almost always mild (redness and swelling at the injection site) and go away within a few days.  Severe allergic reactions are very rare.  The disease-prevention benefits are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.

It is a normal part of parenting to question and investigate anything that affects our children.  We encourage you to glean your information about childhood vaccines from us, your pediatricians, or our website that contains CDC and AAP information.  You can also find this information on the CDC website.