National Infant Immunization Week 2010

It's National Infant Immunization Week 2010! To get you started I've got some immunization pointers below.

According to the CDC, outstanding progress has been made in immunization rates for children younger than two years old. In fact, current immunization rates in the United States are at or near record highs. That said, there are also over one million children in the United States who are not adequately immunized, putting thousands of lives at risk for contracting vaccine-preventable diseases. Each year hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent caring for those children who contract diseases that could have easily been avoided with a simple vaccine. Some basic facts about vaccines today: Vaccines are one of the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. Vaccines do more than protect your child they also help protect the spread of infectious diseases. Your baby is especially vulnerable to infectious diseases that are easily preventable by vaccines. If you want to protect your baby there are 14 vaccine-preventable diseases your baby should have before the age of two years. You can easily find out which vaccines your child needs by using the FREE Instant Childhood Immunization Schedule (for children six years and younger). At every pediatrician appointment it's important to talk to your baby's doctor about vaccines to make sure your baby is up-to-date on immunizations. If you cannot afford to pay for vaccines for your baby there are many resources that can help. Some childre are eligible for free vaccinations through a federal program called Vaccines for Children. Vaccines for Children (VFC) provides free vaccines to eligible children, including those without health insurance coverage, all those who are enrolled in Medicaid, American Indians and Alaskan Natives and those whose health insurance dues does not cover vaccines and go to Federally Qualified Health Clinics or Rural Health Centers. If your child meets one of the VFC eligibility criteria, your child will get his or her vaccines free of charge from a local provider. Stay tuned for more information on vaccines during National Infant Immunization Week 2010. [images via CDC]