CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – National Immunization Awareness Month Coincides with Return to School
August marks “National Immunization Awareness Month,” which aims to educate communities on the benefits of immunizations as students start returning to school. “Immunizations are very important — their importance cannot be overstated,” said Don Roseberry, Physician Assistant – Certified, with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic in Winnsboro. “Not only do they reduce the length and severity of illness when we contract them, but they also are shown do decrease death rates for diseases.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), thousands of adults and children in the United States get sick each year from diseases that vaccines can prevent. For patients with asthma or who are immune-compromised, vaccines are an important step in protecting their health from serious diseases like influenza and pneumonia. Texas law requires children to be vaccinated against several diseases before attending school, including MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), hepatitis A and B, and DTap (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) among others.
Roseberry adds that children will inherently get sick, but that it is the natural course of the body learning to be strong and healthy. “If in doubt, get checked out,” Roseberry added. “If you have questions about whether you should seek care, you will not regret in the long-term getting your child checked out by their health care provider.” He also offers some tips for staying healthy as students return to school.
“Kids should have a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables to provide adequate energy for the day, make sure to stay hydrated and aim for a healthy amount of sleep,” he said. “These are basic things that can really help the body stay healthy.” The Sleep Foundation recommends school age kids get between 9 and 12 hours a sleep a day, with teenagers between 8 and 10 hours. It is recommended that anyone who has questions about their child’s immunization records contact their local health care provider or reach out to their school nurse for guidance.
