MCG Health System Recognizes August as National Immunization Awareness Month

Augusta, Ga. -- Are you and your loved ones up to date with your vaccinations? With school starting soon and flu season right around the corner, August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This month is designed to increase awareness about the importance of immunization for people of all ages, cultures and ethnic groups.

Many parents have questions and concerns regarding immunizations. Dr. Dennis Murray, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center, offers some insight. "Vaccines are generally safe, but like any medicine, they can occasionally cause reactions," said Dr. Murray. "These reactions are usually mild, like a sore arm or a slight fever; serious reactions from vaccines are rare."

And contrary to popular belief, you cannot get a disease from a vaccination. "A disease-causing germ is sometimes used in the creation of a vaccine," said Dr. Murray. "However, vaccines are made from killed or weakened bacteria or viruses, as well as non-harmful products of these germs."

About 3-10 percent of children may experience a rash 10-14 days after receiving the MMR vaccine as well as the chicken pox vaccine. If your child develops a rash, it should disappear in a few days. Consult your child's physician if the rash does not go away.

Remember, vaccines are:

• Simple - One to five doses of a vaccine can provide long-term to
  lifelong protection from some serious diseases.
• Natural - Vaccines stimulate the body's own immune system. The
  body's response to vaccines builds a defense against disease
  from a future exposure to that bacteria or virus.
• Effective - Vaccines prevent diseases. The number of cases of
  most vaccine-preventable diseases have been reduced by 96
  percent or more.
• Economic - The cost of each vaccine is generally lower than the
  cost to treat the disease that the vaccine prevents.

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 Medical Center, 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.