Why Immunize
Montanans often hear conflicting messages about immunization and vaccines in the media and popular culture. On the one hand we’re told the world is free from many dangerous diseases because of vaccines, but on the other hand we’re warned to immunize our children and ourselves.
The Bottom Line
Immunization is one of the most important decisions we can make for the long-term health of our family and wellbeing of our community.
To Save Lives
Thanks to advances in medical science we’re protected from more diseases than ever before. For example, polio, which caused approximately 50,000 cases each year in the U.S., was one of the most dreaded childhood diseases of the 20th century. But, through successful vaccination programs, polio is almost gone from the world. The CDC estimates vaccination of children born between 1994 and 2018 in the U.S will prevent 419 million illnesses and help avoid 936,000 deaths.
To Protect the Vulnerable
Those of us healthy enough to be immunized have a responsibility to protect vulnerable members of our community who aren’t able to receive vaccines. Just as we expect others not to deliberately expose us to harm, patients with Leukemia or other serious illnesses, the elderly, and young babies are counting on us to keep them safe from preventable diseases.
To Safeguard Our Communities
Even in a state as large as Montana, small pockets of unvaccinated individuals can pose a risk. In today’s interconnected world, a spreading illness is just a plane ride away. If immunization rates are low, disease can travel quickly through a community making a lot of people sick. However, if enough people are vaccinated against a certain disease, the germs can’t travel as easily from person to person, and the entire community is less likely to get the disease. This is known as “community immunity” or “community protection.”
For community immunity to work immunization rates must remain high. For example, to keep diseases like measles at bay 90-95 percent of people must be fully vaccinated. By maintaining high immunization rates, we not only protect ourselves, but we also protect our friends, neighbors, and colleagues from the spread of diseases.
To Reduce Hardship
Vaccine-preventable diseases can be costly for families resulting in doctor’s visits, hospitalization, missed work, and premature deaths. Additionally, outbreaks place a strain on local, state, and federal resources.
For every $1 spent on childhood vaccinations, our country saves $10.90 and the CDC estimates vaccination of children born between 1994 and 2018 has saved the U.S nearly $406 billion in direct medical costs and $1.88 trillion in societal costs. Choosing to immunize against preventable diseases is a good investment and usually fully covered (aka free) by insurance providers.
To Strengthen the Body’s Natural Immunity
The immunity gained from vaccination is similar to a natural infection without the risk of a natural disease. Vaccines use altered viruses or bacteria to help your immune system recognize and learn to fight serious disease before you encounter it in the natural environment.
To Send Infectious Diseases Packing
Sadly, serious vaccine-preventable diseases still occur. Recent measles outbreaks, once rare in the U.S. have caused neighboring states to declare a “States of Emergency”. Meanwhile, whopping cough (Pertussis) makes an appearance in our communities every year.
Immunization not only protects your children, it protects your children’s children. By doing our part to vaccinate against preventable diseases we can ensure measles and other infectious diseases join the likes of Polio and Small Pox as distant memories of the past.