Delaware Modern Pediatrics Blog » immunization refusal http://blog.delawaremodernpediatrics.com Delaware Pediatrics and Medical Blog Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:17:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Avoiding vaccines? Your child is at increased risk! http://blog.delawaremodernpediatrics.com/avoiding-vaccines-your-child-is-at-increased-risk/ http://blog.delawaremodernpediatrics.com/avoiding-vaccines-your-child-is-at-increased-risk/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:56:13 +0000 David Epstein M.D. http://blog.delawaremodernpediatrics.com/?p=197 Most of the families in my practice accept the usual recommendations for routine immunization.  They do so because they understand the benefits, and they can ignore the unfounded fears that some people promote.

Routine vaccination prevents illness.  Another recent study has confirmed the value of these shots.  In the June 2009 issue of Pediatrics, doctors in Denver, Colorado investigated 156 cases of clinically proven whooping cough (Pertussis) in children, ages 2 months to 18 years.  When compared with kids who received the standard immunization schedule, children of “refusers” were much more likely to get sick from whooping cough – 20 times more common!

This study demonstrates two things.  First, vaccines prevent illness (not surprisingly).  Second, these kids didn’t get much protection from “herd immunity.”  They weren’t protected by the fact that other kids in their community had been immunized.

Bottom line: don’t delay!  Get your kids vaccinated according to the recommended schedule.  If you have questions, I’d be happy to discuss them with you.

–  Dr. Epstein

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/123/6/1446

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