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Immunization: Top Important Reasons
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Prevents birth defects
Rubella, or German measles, is a mild, contagious childhood illness that can cause serious birth defects in an unborn child. According to the March of Dimes, about 25% of babies whose mothers contract rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy are born with one or more birth defects. Congenital rubella syndrome, as it is called, includes eye defects, hearing loss, heart defects, mental retardation and less frequently, movement disorders. Photo: Getty Images
Provides necessary protection
A newborn comes into the world with a fully developed immune system and immunity to many diseases because of antibodies passed on by the mother. But the duration of this immunity may last only a month to one year. The maternal immunity does not protect young children from all contagious diseases. Immunization provides that necessary protection. Photo: Getty Images
Eliminates death and serious complications
Vaccine-preventable diseases cause serious complications, even death. A serious form of polio leads to muscle paralysis and death. Serious complications of measles include encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, and thrombocytopenia, or a low platelet count. Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of the cerebral spinal fluid that can lead to brain damage, coma and death. Photo: Getty Images
Protects the community
Immunization slows and stops the outbreak of contagious diseases. Immunizing individual children protects members in the community who are not immunized and who cannot be immunized. These individuals include infants too young to be vaccinated against certain diseases, those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, such as children with leukemia, and persons who cannot or have not yet developed an immunity to a vaccine. Photo: Getty Images
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