Vaccines Protect Against Disease

Vaccines Protect Against Disease

Teen getting vaccine

Will your child be 13 years old before school starts this fall? Get prepared by scheduling a wellness appointment to be sure your child is current with vaccinations.

What if my child is behind? that’s okay!

What vaccinations should I focus on for this next school year?

There are three:

  1. Meningococcal – one dose is needed
    Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and infection of the blood.
  2. Diphtheria/ Tetanus/ Pertussis, commonly known as Tdap – one booster dose is needed
    Diphtheria can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death. Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus causes painful stiffening of the muscles and enters the body through cuts or open skin.
  3. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) series- 2 doses needed
    HPV infections can cause certain types of cancers and is spread through intimate skin-to-skin or sexual contact. The HPV vaccine can prevent over 90% of cancers caused by HPV.

I am concerned, will my child have a reaction?

Vaccine reactions are mild and often resolve on their own. This is a sign that our body is building a healthy immune response to protect us from disease. Common reactions may include: injection site soreness, redness, or swelling, mild fever, headache, muscle or joint pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

CDC and the FDA take many steps to make sure vaccines are very safe both before and after the public begins using the vaccine Making sure vaccines are safe is a priority for CDC. Please note: administering multiple vaccines at the same time has been proven to be safe.

Why should I vaccinate my child?

  • Reduce vaccine preventable disease
  • It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it after it occurs
  • Vaccination is a highly effective, safe, and easy way to keep your child healthy

Where can i find more information?

  • Ask one of your health care providers
  • Contact Community Health Choice
  • Contact your local or state health department
  • Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/index.html

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/literature/litlist.shtm#H

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