Protecting Your Health Through Immunization: Understanding the Importance of Preventative Care
April 24-30 is World Immunization Week
4/28/2023
Tracy Clay, Nurse Practitioner at Aspirus Woodruff Clinic
In honor of World
Immunization Week, Aspirus Health aims to motivate the community to stay up to
date on immunizations – for both children and adults alike. According to the
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), billions of vaccine doses
have been safely administered in the United States for more than 50 years. It
is because of these efforts that afflictions such as polio and diphtheria feel
like a worry of the past. (However, only one disease has
been wiped out globally, and that’s smallpox.)
“One of the most
pervasive myths providers hear is that children no longer need vaccines for
diseases like polio, which is simply not true,” says Tracy Clay, Nurse
Practitioner at Aspirus Woodruff Clinic – Maple Street. In other parts of the
world, these terrible diseases are still present. Clay reminds us that global
travel makes it easy for them to spread.
For example, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2021 and
2022, polio outbreaks were detected in areas with low vaccination rates, with
cases of paralysis from polio found in the U.S. and London.
Health experts remind
us that future outbreaks, from viruses and bacteria of many kinds, can be
avoided with widespread vaccination. But millions of people around the world
still do not have access to vaccines, resulting in one and a half million
people dying every year from illnesses that could have been prevented by a
vaccine according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Fortunately, in the
United States, vaccines are readily available to everyone who needs them.
“Vaccines are one of
the most important aspects of preventive care, especially for children,” says
Clay. “Preventing a deadly disease is a better choice than trying to treat it.”
And it’s also important for parents to stay up to date with their own vaccines
and boosters, such as tetanus.
“Health care providers
understand that parents want what’s best for their children. And thankfully, we
do too,” says Clay. “We’re here to talk through any concerns or questions about
the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, for your child OR yourself.”
Staying up to date on
vaccinations means healthier kids and stronger, safer communities. Partner with
your child’s health care provider to determine the best care possible to give
them a happy, healthy life. For more information about vaccine recommendations
per age groups, contact your primary care provider. To find one, visit aspirus.org.
Back to all Posts