Vaccinations important part of gearing up for school

What I remember most about heading back to school as a child: the crisp scent of fall in the air, new clothes and shots. The dreaded "vaccination days" of childhood are long since past for me, but only just beginning for my 10-month-old daughter, Hana.

As our knowledge of disease and disease processes expands through improved technology and medical research, so does the capability to prevent or lessen the severity of once-deadly childhood diseases.

Tried-and-true vaccines against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, mumps and rubella have now protected generations of infants. New vaccines are quickly joining the ranks. For example, vaccine for the widespread disease, Rotavirus (especially dangerous to premature infants) is taken orally in three doses at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, providing an extra level of protection to babies who need it most.

Most of us recall our bout with the common childhood disease varicella (chickenpox) with a grimace of itchy discomfort. Now, there is a vaccine for this disease which many states are requiring before entry into the school and daycare systems. (Idaho is not yet requiring this vaccine.) As another example, severely debilitating polio reached near epidemic proportions 100 years ago, but is now virtually extinct worldwide due to stringent application of the vaccine to infants and toddlers.

The fear shared by many parents is that by vaccinating their children, they are putting them at risk of developing these diseases. This is not the case. Vaccines work by introducing a dead virus to the immune system. This way, when the body comes in contact with the real thing, it knows how to react and can use this inherent knowledge to fight off the disease before it becomes dangerous.

As parents, physicians and lawmakers are recognizing the importance of early vaccinations, more and more children (77 percent) are getting vaccinated each year. However, according to the Center for Disease Control, these numbers still do not meet the national goal of ninety percent, and the number of children vaccinated in poorer areas is lower still.

Many children get their routine vaccinations at their doctor's office during their regular well-child visits. Children without medical insurance may not get these opportunities on a regular basis. Panhandle Health District's Immunization Program aims to fill this void by offering adult, adolescent and childhood immunizations. To make an appointment, or to learn more, please call the Bonner County office at 263-5159.