No parent wants to see their child sick, but many have questions and misconceptions about the benefits of vaccines.
“I speak a lot to the parents and they always tell me they're afraid that there could be side effects from the vaccines and how they could affect the children,” said parent Roman Vlynsky. “But I always say the benefits outweigh the side effects that can be happening.”
Dr. Gloria Riefkohl with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital said vaccines make a big difference.
“None of us – not only as pediatricians – but as regular physicians would provide any vaccine that causes any of disease that parents think they do,” Riefkohl said.
The vaccines start long before children enter school.
“These vaccines run the gamut from the time you're two months of age until you enter school,” Riefkohl said. “You need to have completed the series otherwise, according to the age, we’ll provide the vaccines needed for the child to be able to enter school.”
Just some of the vaccines children entering elementary school need include:
· Four to five doses of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP)
· Two doses of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
· Two doses of Varicella, also known as the Chicken Pox vaccine
There are more vaccines needed for children entering middle and high school.
“These vaccines have to do with the booster for Diphtheria and whooping cough. For adolescents we do recommend the vaccine against meningitis and we do recommend the vaccine for Human Papillomavirus.
A back to school physical is considered a must. All physicals or vaccines given within the calendar year are valid all year long.
For more information on vaccine requirements click here.