The recent chicken pox outbreak in Mitchell County, where nearly three dozen cases were confirmed, is a reminder of the importance of childhood immunizations.
Tuesday health care workers across the state came together for an annual conference where the importance of immunizations was stressed and how to get that important message out to patients.
Many diseases, like chicken pox, are a vaccine preventable disease. But some parents forgo getting their child vaccinated or forget to keep up but doctors say vaccinations aren't only important for your child's health but for your health as well.
Let's face it- no one likes getting a shot. 4-year-old Kimora Miller is one of those people; she's getting five, and she's not very happy about it.
Although it's a tough sight for any mother to see, knowing her child is protected from many diseases for several years is worth it.
"It's definitely worth the little while she is crying it because I know what I help to prevent," said her mom, Tiffany Kilson.
Tuesday doctors, nurses and other health care professionals got together for the annual Building Bridges Community Affair conference. It's where professionals learned about a number of vaccines and how to reach they can better reach the public.
"These are people who are in the health care profession and they give the vaccine they give the education to adults and to parents about the importance of vaccines," said Pediatrician Larry Pickering.
Dr. Donna Edmond-King says she gets two common questions from parents are vaccines safe and are they needed. "Yes they are safe and they are very much needed."
She says the first vaccine is given in the nursery. "The average child receives almost 20 vaccinations 20 injections by the time he or she reaches four years old."
But vaccinations don't stop there they are needed for middle school students, when students go to college people traveling out of the country and older individuals as well.
"The importance of giving the vaccines to prevent these diseases is absolutely critical," said Dr. Pickering.
Adults also need protection from whooping cough influenza and measles. "We had 22,000 cases of pertussis last year so it's very important we all be immunized," said Dr. Pickering.
Health care providers at the conference say they hope they can get across to the public that vaccines are safe and they are critical for keeping you and your children safe.
Kimora will be good on all of her vaccinations until she turns 11.
The CDC has identified vaccinations as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
These links will help you learn more about certain immunizations. They are not part of WALB's website.
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Let's face it- no one likes getting a shot. 4-year-old Kimora Miller is one of those people
