Why Immunize?

Children need immunizations (shots) to protect them from certain dangerous childhood diseases. Without immunizations, your child can get these diseases — some of which have no cure.

When you get your children fully immunized, you are giving them the best protection against these diseases. Getting immunized also helps protect your community. Diseases spread more easily from person to person if people don’t have all their shots.

And many diseases that have been eliminated in the United States are still common in other parts of the world. That means that dangerous diseases are potentially just a plane flight away. A 2006 outbreak of mumps in the Midwest shows how easy it is for these diseases to spread.

Infants and young children are at the highest risk from these diseases. Immunizations help your child’s immune system to become stronger to fight off these diseases. Each time your child receives an immunization, your child’s immune system becomes stronger.

More information:

Fifty Years of Vaccine Progress (CDC)
A timeline covering 50 years of vaccine progress.

Vaccines: A Safe Choice (CDC)
Safety and risks information, with considerations for parents and contact information.

Evaluating Vaccine Information on the Web
An article about how to determine the trustworthiness of online information with links to recommended.

What If Brochure I Español (Spanish)
A brochure in PDF format discussing the possible consequences of not immunizing your child.