Waldo County Healthcare Inc.
11/05/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/05/2024 09:06
Pediatricians Urge Trust in Vaccines for Child Health
Contact: Carrie Burkett, 603-356-0660 / [email protected]
Or, Tim Kershner, 603-356-0628 / timothy.kershner@mainehealth
North Conway, NH - Over the past 50 years, vaccines are estimated to have saved 154 million lives globally. In the U.S. alone, more than 24 million cases of vaccine-preventable diseases were avoided in 2019. For pediatricians, vaccinations are one of the best tools to keep the ir young patients healthy for life. MaineHealth Memorial Hospital pediatricians note that families are expressing more vaccine hesitancy than they have seen in their careers.
"I see routine childhood vaccination as the most important part of my job," said Dr. Kathryn Fekete, pediatrician at MaineHealth Primary Care North Conway. "We can talk about lots of things at a well visit that may impact a child's immediate future, but the best way that I can promote lifelong health is through vaccination, which can protect them well beyond the time when they are my patients."
Vaccines teach the immune system how to protect the recipient from a potentially life threatening bacterial or viral illness without having to get sick and survive to have those antibodies. So, if an exposure happens, the body is prepared to fight it off before severe symptoms occur.
Vaccinating children not only protects them but also shields other vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those who are immunocompromised. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, following the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine, rates of invasive pneumococcal disease, such as pneumonia and blood infections, declined among both infants who were given the vaccine and older adults who had not received the vaccination. By vaccinating children, the grandparents received protection, too.
While the majority of children receive all recommended vaccines, increasing vaccine hesitancy is present across the country and is leading to increasing rates of vaccine preventable disease. According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, five cases of measles were reported in June 2024, marking an outbreak of a disease that had been considered eliminated in the U.S. since 2000. Rates of whooping cough are also increasing quickly.
"Even when most children get all their immunizations, disease can be spread by the few who are not immunized and this causes a breakdown of herd immunity," explained Dr. Fekete. "This makes people who cannot be immunized, such as children undergoing cancer treatment, more vulnerable. Choosing not to immunize your child not only leaves your child vulnerable but affects those in your community."
When asked why she thinks there may be declining immunization rates, Dr. Fekete said, "Parents voice different reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Often concerns are based on misunderstandings of vaccine development or production and reinforced by the spread of inaccurate or misleading information in online echo chambers. Over and over vaccines have been proven by the scientific community to be safe and effective and they have changed the world, increasing life expectancy and quality of life."
Dr. Fekete encourages those who want to learn more to seek reliable information. Websites like the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia or www.chop.edu offer comprehensive resources on vaccinations. Open conversations with healthcare providers are also a source of reliable information. "We always encourage patients and parents to ask questions. We are providing recommendations based on evidence and giving you our best advice when we recommend vaccines. Let us care for your child with you by preventing them from getting illnesses that can be prevented," said Dr. Fekete.
To get vaccinated, MaineHealth Primary Care North Conway patients can schedule appointments on MyChart or by calling 603-356-5472.
###
About MaineHealth
MaineHealth Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed Critical Access hospital serving the Mount Washington Valley of northern New Hampshire and western Maine. MaineHealth Memorial Hospital includes a robust array of health care services including primary and specialty care services and therapies, emergency care, a birthing center and surgical services. Its care team of 525 includes physicians and advance practice providers who are among the more than 2,000 providers who are part of the MaineHealth Medical Group. Memorial patients have access to onsite care in oncology, cardiology, vascular and pulmonary medicine. MaineHealth Memorial Hospital also partners with several local organizations to provide outreach and educational services supporting the health of our patients and community.
MaineHealth Memorial Hospital is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is, "Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America." As part of the MaineHealth family, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital is able to offer patients a comprehensive network of care that includes world-class specialists, a Level 1 Trauma medical center, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services.