Director's Corner

Immunizations--Don't Leave Home Without Them

If travel is in your spring or summer holiday plans, make sure that before you leave home you and your children are up to date on all of their needed immunizations—especially if you are considering a vacation overseas.  While many of the diseases that can be prevented by vaccines are rare in the United States, they are familiar occurrences in other countries.  A recent measles outbreak in San Diego that spread among a dozen infants and children was traced to a 7-year-old boy who traveled with his family to Europe.  When the family returned home, the boy’s siblings became ill and then the disease spread to other youngsters.  All of those who contracted measles were unvaccinated.

Most parents, and even many doctors, have never experienced vaccine-preventable diseases like measles first-hand.  Routine childhood immunizations have successfully protected recent generations of children and adults from these threats.  For example, after the introduction of the measles vaccine in the early 1960s, the incidence of measles in California dropped from a high of 39,201 reported cases per year to a record low of just four cases in 2005.  However, when immunization rates drop even slightly, the result can be an outbreak of illnesses.

Individuals getting ready to travel can find helpful information about immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentVaccinations.aspx.

For more information about measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases in California, visit www.getimmunizedca.org or call your health care provider to make sure that your family’s shots are complete.