Health Check

Immunizing our children

As parents of two boys, my wife and I have become accustomed to the regimen of vaccination shots our children undergo in order to properly immunize them from childhood illnesses and diseases, some of which could be potentially fatal. Although the number of cases of formerly common childhood illnesses, like measles, has declined significantly since the start of widespread vaccinations in the United States in the 1950s-’60s, it does not suggest that the threat no longer exists. Immunization, along with ready access to quality health care services, plays an integral role in keeping our children healthy—saving thousands of lives and protecting millions of children from illnesses and deadly diseases that still exist in the world today.
    At birth, infants are protected against specific diseases as a result of antibodies that are passed from the mother to the unborn child. However, the protection against certain diseases is only temporary.
    As a result, a number of immunizations which include DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), Hib (haemophilus influenzae type b), MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), and vaccinations for polio, hepatitis B, and varicella are required by the state of California before entering into various stages of school, while other vaccinations for hepatitis A, meningococcal, pneumococcal, and human papillomavirus are highly recommended, particularly to specific high-risk groups.
    Each year in the United States influenza claims more than 36,000 lives and is responsible for more than 100,000 hospitalizations. Thus, children 6 months and older are recommended to receive annual flu (influenza) vaccinations.
    As Solano County’s underserved and uninsured populations continue to grow, community health centers have continued to meet their needs by providing access to quality preventative care services. Specifically, La Clinica de La Raza’s pediatric care in Vallejo stand

s out as its immunization rates of 99 percent are far above the national average of 70 percent.
    Recognizing the ongoing need to safeguard the health of our children, a number of California state legislators have put forth several policy proposals that address the importance of childhood immunizations. One piece of legislation put forward this year is Assembly Bill (AB) 2580, authored by Assembly Member Juan Arambula, which seeks to require a whooping cough (pertussis) booster prior to entering the seventh grade in order to reduce the transmission of this contagious disease. While pertussis generally does not pose a serious threat to adolescents, the current increased transmission from teenagers to infants is of public health concern.
    Additional information regarding immunization schedules and recommendations from the California Department of Health Care Services and California Department of Public Health is available at: dhs.ca.gov/dcdc/izgroup/providers/schedules.htm/.

 Jason Vega is the director of community and government relations for the Community Clinic Consortium, which is a member of the Solano Coalition for Better Health.

The Coalition is a countywide nonprofit organization comprised of health care providers, county health services, educational institutions and community organizations. Since its inception in 1988, the Coalition has developed successful programs through                                                                         partnerships that have improved the health of county residents.

Do you like what you read? Subscribe to Solano Magazine »