The latest local survey shows that 80.6% of San Diego children aged 19-35 months of age have been fully immunized with the age-appropriate vaccinations. That’s in line with the national Healthy People 2020 Goal of 80%.

As we recognize this achievement, we need to continue working towards getting as many children immunized as possible. Every year in San Diego County, about 40,000 babies are born; the equivalent of a small city. And they all need vaccine protection.

Vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough, chickenpox and mumps, are still present in our community and still a threat to our children’s health. Promoting childhood immunization is what National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW, April 21-28) and Toddler Immunization Month (TIM, May) are all about.

These two observances celebrate the power to protect children that immunization offers. This spring, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency urges parents to make sure their infants and toddlers are immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.

“No one wants to see children get sick with a serious disease like measles or whooping cough,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H, County public health officer. “When we immunize infants and toddlers, we’re protecting the health of some of the most vulnerable citizens in our community.”

NIIW and TIM align with Live Well San Diego, a countywide vision which aims to improve the health and well-being of our community. When people choose to get immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases, they build better health in their community, helping to create a Healthy, Safe and Thriving San Diego County.

“Immunizations protect young children against 14 serious childhood diseases, including measles, whooping cough and flu,” Dr. Wooten said. “We urge parents to talk with their child’s doctor about needed shots.”

Parents can use the checklist below to make sure their kids get the immunizations they need:

Infant and Toddler (through 2 years of age) Vaccine Checklist

• Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine (DTaP) at 2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months of age
• Haemophilus influenzae type (Hib) at 2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months of age
• Pneumococcal (PCV) at 2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months of age
• Polio (IPV) at 2, 4 and 6 months of age
• Hepatitis B (Hep B) at Birth, 2 and 6 months of age
• Hepatitis A (Hep A) at 1-2 years, followed by another dose 6 months later
• Rotavirus at 2, 4 and 6 months of age
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) at 12 months of age
• Chickenpox (Varicella) at 12-15 months of age
• Flu vaccine (every year for children 6 months and older)

See this web page for an easy-to-read immunization chart: http://www.sdiz.org/Community/easytoreadsched-0-6yrs.html.

Parents should contact their doctor to schedule an appointment for needed vaccines. Parents whose children do not have insurance can contact a County Public Health Center. See a list of Centers for low-cost shots: http://tinyurl.com/ny6aegx.

For more information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, visit www.sdiz.org, www.cdc.gov/vaccines and www.ShotsforSchool.org. Visit www.shotbyshot.org for true stories about people whose lives were affected by vaccine-preventable diseases.

Source:   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Infant Immunization Week web page