Dear Parents,

Most parents associate immunizations with school and day care requirements, filling out those dreaded forms every year and you ask yourself why. Well, the Web site you’re about to see tells you why.

Prior to the creation of many of the vaccines available today, thousands – and sometimes millions — of children became infected with diseases that often resulted in lifelong disabilities or, even worse, death. These diseases were contagious, meaning they were easily spread between children. Thankfully, we now have the ability to immunize children and adolescents against contagious, preventable and sometimes deadly diseases.

Immunization success stories, however, can lead parents to think that diseases like polio, whooping cough, and measles no longer exist…but they do. Because many parents today have never seen a child with whooping cough, for example, they mistakenly may think of it as simply a mild childhood disease. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, whooping cough causes coughing that lasts for weeks, even months. Coughing spells can lead to problems breathing, eating and sleeping. In serious cases, coughing may cause broken ribs or hospitalization. In 2005, 8 infants died in a whooping cough outbreak in Texas.

Whooping cough is on the rise in the United States, across all age groups. More than 20,000 cases were identified in the U.S. in 2005, but the vast majority go unreported. Experts estimate there may actually be up to one million cases every year. That’s why we have to be diligent about vaccinating our children and adolescents against illnesses. The fact that we don’t see certain diseases anymore doesn’t mean they no longer exist…it simply means the vaccines are working. They will continue to work, however, only as long as we continue to immunize our children.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation on the Internet about vaccines, so I commend you for finding your way to this reliable Web site. We’re pleased to provide you with the information you’ll need to make an educated decision about immunization. And, of course, you’ll also want to discuss this issue with your partner in your child’s health…your pediatrician.

Sincerely,

Signature

Renée R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP
President
American Academy of Pediatrics