Illnesses that tend to affect children aren't always minor. In fact, some may cause lifelong disabilities or even death. Immunizations offered by your Baltimore, MD, pediatrician, Dr. Stacey Eadie of Peds In A Pod Pediatrics, can help your child stay healthy and avoid common childhood illnesses like mumps, measles, chickenpox, whooping cough, and rotavirus.
Why children need immunizations
Outbreaks of whooping cough and measles in unvaccinated children in recent years illustrated the importance of immunizations. In addition to making kids feel miserable, these illnesses can cause serious health consequences. Blindness can occur after a bout of measles, while pneumonia or brain damage can happen with both measles and whooping cough. Unfortunately, it's impossible to determine which children will or won't develop the potentially devastating effects of a disease in advance.
Immunizations prevent children from becoming seriously ill with childhood diseases by triggering the production of antibodies, proteins that identify and kill viruses when they enter your child's body. These antibodies prevent your child from developing the illness or reduce the severity of the illness.
Immunizing your child also protects infants not yet old enough to receive vaccines or children who can't receive immunizations due to health reasons. Immunizing the majority of the population stops or slows the spread of disease.
What about autism and other side effects?
Fortunately, reports about a connection between autism and childhood immunizations aren't true. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies have found no link between vaccines and autism.
Side effects can occur no matter how old you are after an immunization. In fact, you may have felt a little achy or tired after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or another immunization. These side effects can occur as your body begins to produce antibodies. Side effects do not happen because your child actually has the particular disease.
Most kids only develop mild side effects after receiving immunizations at Peds In A Pod Pediatrics. Your son or daughter may be a little fussy or develop a mild fever. These side effects usually only last a day or two. Fortunately, the protection provided by the immunization will help your child avoid serious illness for years to come.
Protect your child's health with childhood immunizations. Call your pediatrician in Baltimore, MD, Dr. Eadie of Peds In A Pod Pediatrics, at (410) 285-KIDS (5437) to schedule your appointment.