The DuPage County Health Department shared in a press release this week that National Infant Immunization Week is April 26-May 3.  Therefore, it is  reminding parents to vaccinate their children according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended immunization schedule for safe, proven disease protection.

Giving babies the recommended immunizations by age two is the best way to protect them from 14 serious childhood diseases, like whooping cough and measles. Parents are encouraged to talk to their child’s doctor to ensure that their infant is up-to-date on immunizations.

Immunizations not only provide individual protection to each child, but protect the health of the entire community. Immunizations have been so successful, in fact, that many people may not have seen cases of the serious diseases they prevent.

Even when diseases are rare in the United States, they can be brought into DuPage County, putting children at risk.  For example, the number of measles cases in the United States is increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current measles outbreak has infected 129 people across 13 states so far this year. Measles had been considered eradicated in the United States since 2000, but CDC cites the growing number of unvaccinated children as a contributing factor to the increase in this disease.

The Health Department reminds parents that vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death.  For information on immunizations available at the DuPage County Health Department, call (630) 682-7400, and speak with a Customer Service Representative.

For the 2014 infant immunizations schedule, visit:   www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/child.html  

For more information on the DuPage County Health Department, follow us on Twitter @DuPageHD or become a fan on Facebook.

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