August is National Immunization month, what a great reminder to get your children or loved ones ready for the new school year by updating their back-to-school immunizations and boosters. Immunizations are public health heroes that eradicated life-threatening diseases. Yet, over a decade ago a team of London doctors changed the face of immunizations through false allegations against immunizations.

The London based medical team led by Dr. Andrew Wakefield claimed that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination was connected to the cause of autism. The effects of the study immediately resonated with parents throughout the United Kingdom and the United States. Yet, not every one believed this new study was accurate. Scientists and researchers could not replicate Wakefield's findings linking autism to the MMR vaccine. A Sunday Times of London journalist, Brian Deer investigated the new vaccine crisis. His in-depth investigation not only proved the study to be bad science, he also discovered Wakefield deliberately mislead and falsified data. The American Academy of Pediatrics made a statement noting that there was no direct link between the MMR vaccine and autism and "every aspect of Dr. Wakefield's theory has been disproven."

Myths and misinformation about vaccine safety can confuse parents who are trying to make sound decisions about their children's health care. The truth is vaccines are held to the highest standard of safety. The United States currently has the safest and most effective vaccine supply in history. Years of testing are required by law before a vaccine can be licensed. Once in use, vaccines are continually monitored for safety and effectiveness.

Vaccines are one of the most successful and cost-effective public health tools for preventing serious disease and death. Diseases that were common in past years - such as Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Rubella are now distant memories for most Americans. However, those diseases are not diseases of the past. They are still with us and circulating in many parts of the world. Just last year, Iowa experienced a significant Pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak, with 705 confirmed or probable cases (a 229% increase in activity over the previous three year average).

Even with the Wakefield study behind us, people are still failing to immunize their children and themselves. Take this year's Measles outbreak. 23 states in the United States reported an outbreak that included an eight-month old child from Dallas County, Iowa. Individuals exposed to this child that  were unvaccinated or too young to receive the MMR vaccine were at high risk of becoming ill from this virus.

Currently, there are 13 different diseases that infants and young children can be vaccinated against. Many of these diseases have no cure if they are contracted, making vaccination the only defense. As parents, you have the power to protect your children from serious disease. Be an informed consumer. Take responsibility for your child's vaccinations. Have your child examined at regular doctor visits. Ask questions about immunizations. Keep a vaccination record. These are simple ways to protect your child.

• Protect their friends, schoolmates, and others from those same diseases. Some children can't get certain vaccines for medical reasons, or some children are not able to respond to certain vaccines. For these children, the immunity of people around them is their only protection.
   
• Protect your grandchildren, their grandchildren, and future generations from diseases. If we stopped vaccinating, diseases that are under control would eventually come back to cause epidemics. This has happened in several countries.
   
• Help rid the world of diseases that have been crippling and killing children for centuries. Immunization allowed us to eradicate Smallpox. Today Polio is nearly gone, and in the future, we hope Measles and other diseases will follow.

We must all work together to ensure that everyone including adults  and children are fully immunized. Health care providers need to talk with parents about the importance of immunization and be willing to answer their questions about vaccine risks and benefits. Every visit should be seen as an opportunity to vaccinate and reminders should be given to parents when immunizations are due.

Take full advantage of National Immunization month by visiting the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. The staff at the immunization clinic can assist in meeting all your vaccine needs. Take the time to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting immunized.

For more information about immunizations, please visit our website at www.cghealth.com.

* The picture above this article is of Brenda Heinz, a LPN at our Immunization Clinic and cilent.