April 21 - 28, 2012

Making sure that your child is properly immunized is one of the best things you can do for your child as a parent.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities. This year NIIW will be held April 21 - 28, 2012.

For more information about National Infant Immunization Week, visit the CDC's NII Week Website. To view 2012 immunization schedules, click here.

As always, if you have any questions or would like more information please contact Personal Health Services of the Marquette County Health Department at 475-7844 or your primary care physician.

News Release! Michigan VFC Program Helps Ease the Cost of Immunizing Children

A Vaccines for Children (VFC) brochure for parents is available free of charge from MDCH. The brochure has been updated recently, including the title; it used to be called Shots for Your Child, and is now called Vaccines for Your Child. It can be ordered online at http://www.healthymichigan.com/.

To view this brochure, and other free brochures available through the Division of Immunization, go to www.michigan.gov/immunize. The VFC brochure can be found within the Educational Materials and Brochures section, under Immunization Brochures for the Whole Family.

An Important Message to Parents and Caregivers from Assistant Surgeon General, Dr. Anne Schuchat

When you're a parent or caregiver for a child, you're like an umbrella. Not only do you have to be ready to offer protection at any given moment, but you never know what's going to be raining down. It's often up to you to be that layer protecting your children from the elements, whether it's making sure the carseat is secure or insisting on broccoli before dessert. Today, let me remind you that you can shield your children from something you may take for granted - vaccine-preventable diseases. Please click here to read the rest of Dr. Schuchat's important message!

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Fact Sheet for Parents

Frequently Asked Questions

Five Important Reasons to Immunize Your Child

You want to do what is best for your children. You know about the importance of car seats, baby gates, and other ways to keep them safe. But, did you know that one of the best ways to protect your children is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations?

Immunizations can save your child’s life.

Because of advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children have been eliminated completely and others are close to being gone – primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. One example of the great impact vaccines can have is the eradication of polio in the United States. Polio was once America’s most-feared disease causing death and paralysis across the country but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States.

Vaccination is safe and effective.

All vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. The most comprehensive scientific studies and reviews have not found a link between vaccines and autism. Groups of experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies also agree that vaccines are not responsible for the number of children now recognized to have autism.

Immunization protects others you care about.

Serious vaccine-preventable diseases still occur. Unfortunately, some babies are too young to be completely vaccinated and some people may not be able to receive vaccinations due to allergies, illness, weakened immune systems, or other reasons. To help keep these individuals safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones.

Immunizations can save your family time and money.

 A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be kept out of schools or daycare facilities. A prolonged illness can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills, or long-term disability care. In comparison, getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance. The Vaccines for Children program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. To find out more about the VFC program, visit, http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/ or ask your child’s healthcare provider.

Immunization protects future generations.

Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations before. For example, smallpox vaccination helped eradicate that disease world wide. Your children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. If we keep vaccinating now, parents in the future may be able to trust that diseases like polio and measles won’t infect, cripple, or kill children.

Marquette County Health Department
Division of Personal Health
184 US Highway 41 East
Negaunee, Michigan  49866
(906) 475-7844 (phone)
(906) 475-4435 (fax)