The last week of April is National Infant Immunization Week, a great time to remind everyone why protecting babies and young children from vaccine-preventable diseases matters.
I partnered with I Vaccinate to share my story, and this content is sponsored by I Vaccinate.
The past few years have been chaotic for many families, and some children fell behind on routine well-checks and vaccinations. In honor of this week, I want to share why staying up to date on vaccines is so important to me.
Keeping Vaccines Up to Date
As a mom, I try to do everything I can to keep my kids healthy—making sure they sleep enough, eat well, stay active, and get their vaccines on schedule. Since my children were babies, we’ve followed the recommended vaccination timeline because it’s one of the best ways to prevent serious illness and hospital stays.
Following the recommended schedule for infants, children, and teens helps make sure they’re protected when they need it most. Babies’ immune systems are still developing, so they’re more vulnerable to severe illness. Vaccines protect kids and teens from 16 vaccine-preventable diseases, including HPV, which can cause six types of cancer. Getting vaccines on time helps ensure protection early on.
Protection From Serious Illnesses
Immunizations protect babies and children from dangerous, sometimes life-threatening diseases. Vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective against illnesses like measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and whooping cough. By vaccinating our children, we reduce their risk of these serious diseases.
Community Protection
Vaccination is a shared responsibility. Vaccines protect individuals and help prevent the spread of disease in the community. When many people are vaccinated, herd immunity makes it harder for illnesses to spread, which protects those who can’t be vaccinated, like infants who are too young or people with weakened immune systems.
By vaccinating our kids, we also help protect future generations. Many diseases that used to be common and deadly are now rare thanks to vaccines. Keeping up the vaccination routine helps make sure those diseases don’t come back.
Safe and Effective
Vaccines are safe and have been carefully tested. Serious side effects are very rare, and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. The U.S. vaccine safety system watches over recommendations and updates them as new science becomes available to keep vaccines as safe as possible.
Peace of Mind
Vaccinating my children gives me peace of mind. I feel confident that I’m doing what I can to protect them from serious illnesses. Vaccines also make me more comfortable when we travel or spend time around others, knowing my kids have protection against many dangerous diseases.
National Infant Immunization Week is a helpful reminder to check on vaccinations. If you’re unsure whether your children are up to date, call your pediatrician so they can help you catch up. You can learn more about vaccine safety and effectiveness from trusted sources like iVaccinate.org. I Vaccinate offers information and tools based on medical science and research to help Michigan parents protect their kids.
Vaccinating our children is one of the most important steps we can take for their health and for a healthier, safer community for everyone.