August is national immunization awareness month and a great opportunity to review the importance of childhood immunizations such as MMR and DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) and the impact on children’s overall health and wellbeing. A recent CDC report shows many children are still behind on getting their routine childhood immunizations due to the pandemic. This potentially poses a “serious public health threat that would result in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.”
Diseases that used to be common in this country and around the world, including polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus, rotavirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) can now be prevented by vaccination.
As children go back to school, it’s important for them to be up to date on all of their vaccinations. Immunizing individual children also helps to protect the health of our community, especially those people who cannot be immunized (children who are too young to be vaccinated, or those who can’t receive certain vaccines for medical reasons), and the small proportion of people who don’t respond to a particular vaccine.
Below are a few tips for parents that a UnitedHealthcare chief medical officer can speak to:
- Check the CDC’s immunization schedulefor a full list of recommended vaccinations to help ensure your child is up to date.
- If you’re feeling nervous about an in-person medical appointment, many clinics are taking extra stepsto make sure that well-child visits can happen safely during COVID-19.
- Appointments with your pediatrician are essential to help maintain your child’s health, especially for those 2 years and younger to ensure they are protected from vaccine preventable diseases, plus the development of infants changes rapidly. Early identification of concerns helps connect your child with the resources needed.
- Due to the pandemic, some hospitals and clinics may offer sick visits and routine visits to be performed at different locations or they may also be scheduling sick visits and routine visits during different times or days. Before your child’s visit, call your doctor so you can know what to expect.
