The School Year is Coming ” Is Your Child Vaccinated?

The sure sign summer's coming to an end? The impending sound of school bells just around the corner. The coming weeks are sure to be filled with shopping trips and check lists, but don't forget one of the most important to-do items: vaccinations for your child. Take advantage of your flexible summer schedules to get vaccinations taken care of early, and avoid the rush and potential waits later on.

The Anchorage School District immunization requirements for students can be found here. According to the CDC, the following are just five important reasons to have your child immunized.

1. Immunizations can save your child's life. Our experts agree: with all the advances in medical science, your child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Diseases that once posed a highly dangerous threat to children have been eliminated completely or are close to extinction.
2. Vaccinations are safe and effective. Serious side effects vaccinations are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.
3. Immunizations protect other you care about. Unfortunately, children in the U.S. still get vaccine” reventable diseases, such as whooping cough and measles, because they are unable to be completely vaccinated for various reasons. To help keep them safe, it's important to vaccinate children who are able to be to help prevent the spread of these diseases.
4. Immunizations can save your family time and money. A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or daycare facilities. In addition, some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities, resulting in financial strain from taking time off work, medical bills, etc.
5. Immunizing your child protects future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many deadly diseases from just a few generations ago. Continuing to vaccinate now can help ensure that other diseases of today are no longer around to harm children in the future.

Immunizing your child now will take care of one more thing on your to-do list, and help your child be better prepared for the school year. Free immunizations are available to eligible patients through 18 years of age at Alaska Regional's Immunization Clinic. The clinic is held on the third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Alaska Regional Medical Plaza.

For more information, please call 264-1105.