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CLEVELAND – The number of vaccinations for kindergartners here in the United States decreased last year compared to the year before, according to the CDC.
But Dr. Kimberly Giuliano, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, said she’s noticed this trend since the pandemic.
“When the pandemic started, we saw a slight decline in vaccination rates. And initially, it was simply related to the ability of children to get into offices for care, and parents to be in medical facilities. of children,” Dr. Giuliano said. “Certainly those days are long gone now, but there are still some parents who are hesitant about vaccination.”
Dr. Giuliano said he understands the hesitancy, but there are countless studies showing the vaccine is safe.
Additionally, side effects, if any, tend to be minimal.
Symptoms may include fever, tingling, redness or swelling at the injection site and usually last about 24 hours.
She added that by not vaccinating your children, you are putting them at risk for the very diseases you are trying to prevent, such as measles, mumps and rubella.
In some cases, it can be fatal or cause long-term health problems.
It also puts other children at risk.
“For example, there are children who cannot receive vaccines or live vaccines because they are immunocompromised, or children with chronic health conditions who may not have a strong immune response to vaccines.” said Dr Giuliano. “So if we have a vaccine that protects the majority of us, our more vulnerable children are less likely to get the disease. So we take seriously decisions for all of our children. That’s where I’m at.
He said public health officials have a goal of vaccinating 95% of kindergarteners against measles, mumps and rubella by the 20th to 30th.
This ensures herd immunity and makes it difficult for these diseases to spread.
