Published: June 29, 2009 11:11 am      

Childhood immunizations important

Disease prevention is the key to public health according to Pontotoc County Health Department. It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it.

Vaccines prevent disease in the people who receive them and protect those who come into contact with unvaccinated individuals. Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country, including polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

Immunizing individual children also helps to protect the health of the community. The diseases that have been eliminated in this country, such as polio, are only a plane ride away. If the child is not vaccinated and is exposed to a disease germ, the child's body may not be strong enough to fight the disease.

Parents are constantly concerned about the health and safety of their children and take many steps to protect their children. These steps range from childproof gates to child safety seats. In the same way, vaccines work to protect infants, children, and adults from illness and death caused by infectious diseases.

Pontotoc County Health Department officials remind parents to make sure their children's vaccines are up to date before the back-to-school rush. Pontotoc County Health Department, 1630 E. Beverly, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Phone (580) 332-2011 for more information.