A little pain for a big gain in National Childhood Immunization Week

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http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16512897 & BRD=1698 & PAG=461 & dept_id=21849 & rfi=6 A little pain for a big gain in National Childhood Immunization Week Elsa Orozco's 15-month-old son cried a little bit after he recently got his DTaP vaccination.But the Painesville mother understands how important it is to make sure her son is protected against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. She knows the shot was for his own good.Orozco also appreciated the opportunity to vaccinate her child at an immunization clinic at the Lake County General Health District in Painesville. She wants to make sure her son is as healthy as possible by staying up to date on his

immunizations."This clinic is very helpful to me," she said through a translator. "I've always had a good experience here." Preventive measuresBecause of vaccinations, many diseases that were feared years ago, such as polio and smallpox, barely exist today.To keep them from coming back, health officials across the country and throughout the Western Hemisphere continue to stress the value of immunizations for children.Part of the awareness program includes National Childhood Immunization Week, which begins Saturday and runs through April 29.The campaign this year is focused around the theme, "Love them. Protect them. Immunize them."As in past years, the weeklong awareness program is in conjunction with the Pan American Health Organization's Vaccination Week in the Americas.In the first 24 months of life, children need more than 80 percent of their vaccinations to protect them from disease,

disabilities and death, health officials say. Each year, new and improved vaccines and ways to combine them are developed. These innovations improve the safety and efficacy of vaccines.Nearly 1 million children in the United States are not adequately immunized, health officials estimate. Each day, 11,000 children are born in the U.S., and all are in need of protection from 12 vaccine-preventable diseases before age 2.Vaccines are given at early ages because the diseases they prevent are more serious or common among babies or young children.Up to 60 percent of severe disease caused by haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib disease) in children is among babies younger than 12 months of age, and 90 percent of all deaths from whooping cough are among children younger than 6 months.The ages at which doctors recommend vaccines in the immunization schedule are not arbitrary. They were chosen to give children the earliest and best protection against disease, health

officials say.Immunizations are safe and protect children, families and the community, making them one of the most cost-effective public health strategies, said Sue Leja, the Lake County General Health District's clinical nurse supervisor.Leja said the county's goal is to have at least 90 percent of all children up to date on their immunizations.Many diseases, such as measles, have been virtually eliminated because of vaccinations.But if the public ignores keeping children up to date, the diseases can return on a larger scale.Mumps on the moveIn Iowa, a recent mumps outbreak, the worst in 20 years, has appeared across the state and has spread to neighboring Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin, according to the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issued an alert April 14.More than 1,000 cases have been reported, and more are expected.No deaths and a few hospitalizations are being

reported from the disease, which health officials say might have been spread by air travel.The source of the Iowa epidemic is unknown, but Britain reported a mumps epidemic that peaked last year with about 56,000 cases. The Iowa mumps virus is the same variety, but health officials are still evaluating whether there's a connection.It's a "cascade of transmission that's going to take awhile to curtail and stop," Dr. Gerberding, director of the CDC, said in an interview with the Associated Press.More than 800 of the cases are in Iowa. The CDC has pledged to provide 25,000 doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine to the state from the agency's stockpile. Merck & Co., the vaccine maker, is giving another 25,000 doses to the CDC for distribution to other states, Gerberding said in a briefing in Atlanta.Via satelliteFamilies have numerous opportunities to immunize their children at clinics at various times and locations throughout Northeast

Ohio."Part of our efforts are focused on satellite clinics, to bring it to the people so they don't have to come here," said Peggy Scherer, Geauga County General Health District's personal health services director.Immunizations at clinics in Geauga County are free of charge to county residents and $5 for nonresidents."For the most part, people in the county are good about getting vaccines for their kids," Scherer said.Geauga County's Health District also has started to receive inquiries from the public about the mumps vaccinations.Most people are calling to find out the recommended schedule for when children should be vaccinated, she said.Immunization clinics are important to help those who don't have easy access to vaccinations or who can't afford them privately."These clinics are a great opportunity for families, especially with so many insurance issues, such as capping off of well-child visits or parents having a lapse in their coverage,"

Leja said.A few of the most common reasons parents neglect to have their children vaccinated are insurance running out, too great an expense, or lack of awareness, Leja said.The cost of immunization at the Lake County General Health District clinics is $2, but no one will be turned away due to inability to pay, she said. Clinics are available by appointment."Our goal is for parents and caregivers to join us in our effort to protect the health of our children against dangerous diseases," Leja said.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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