Hit Me With Your Best Shot
By Dr. Dennis Murray
Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center

Augusta, Ga. -- Polio. Diphtheria. Measles. These diseases once killed millions of children in the United States. Now, thanks to the pioneering work of Dr. Edward Jenner, who administered the first vaccine 200 years ago, we no longer need to be afraid that our children will become sick or die from these terrible diseases.

The work, however, isn't finished. More than 900,000 children in the U.S. are not fully immunized, and every day more than 11,000 children are born, each in need of protection from several vaccine-preventable diseases.

Routinely recommended vaccines protect your children against 11 potentially serious diseases: measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib disease), hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox) and pneumococcal disease. At least one injection, and in some cases a series of injections, is required to fully immunize your child against each of these diseases.

Recent research, however, has helped develop new vaccines that are even more efficient in protecting your children. Combination vaccines, which immunize against several diseases with fewer shots, are one innovation. DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) are two combination vaccines that are well-known to most parents. Another vaccine, Comvax, combines immunizations for hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

The latest combination vaccine, known as Pediarix, has been licensed and was recently approved for inclusion in the Vaccines for Children program, which offers free immunizations to eligible families. Pediarix can protect your child against five serious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and polio. Even more significant, the use of this combination vaccine reduces the number of injections in the first year of life by five or six.

New vaccines can also help protect children against other childhood illnesses. An important part of your child's immunization schedule is Prevnar. This vaccine can protect your children against more than 80 percent of the types of bacteria (known as Streptococcus pneumoniae) causing meningitis and more than 50 percent of the types of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing ear infections and pneumonia. In short supply for the past year, Prevnar is now widely available.

Immunizations are an important part of well-child care. While no vaccine is 100 percent safe or 100 percent effective, evaluations by the Institute of Medicine and other sources have clearly shown that the benefits of immunizations far outweigh any potential risks. Visit your physician today and help give your child the best "shot" to a healthy life.
MCG Health System is composed of MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Hospitals and Clinics, Children's Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by offering the highest level of primary and specialty health care.

Note to editors: National Infant Immunization Week is April 13-19.