Oneida County Stresses Importance of Vaccinating Children

April 27 to May 4 is National Infant Immunization Week

Oneida County is urging parents to offer their children the power of protection by vaccinating their children during this National Infant Immunization Week.

“Vaccinations have proven to be safe and effective,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “For their best protection, it is vital parents keep children on a timely immunization schedule from birth, and that we, in public service and public health, work to provide access to all for vaccine services.”

The recommended immunization schedule is designed to protect babies early in life, when they are vulnerable and before it is likely that they will be exposed to diseases. It can protect children from 14 serious and potential-deadly diseases before their second birthday.

Public health and medical experts base their vaccine recommendations on many factors, and study information about diseases and vaccines very carefully to decide which vaccines children should get and when they should get them for best protection.

Most vaccine-preventable diseases are spread from person to person. A person who is immune to a disease because she has been vaccinated can’t get that disease and can’t spread it to others. The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer opportunities a disease has to spread.

“The number of vaccines recommended for babies may seem like a lot, but it is the best thing a parent can do for the health and safety of their child,” said Oneida County Director of Health, Phyllis D. Ellis, BSN, MS, F.A.C.H.E. “When parents delay vaccinations or choose not to vaccinate, they leave their children vulnerable to many very serious diseases.”

The use of vaccinations has widely reduced and nearly eliminated previously-deadly diseases like whooping cough, polio, rubella and measles. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), routine childhood immunization among children born 1994-2018 will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses, 26.8 million hospitalizations, and 936,000 early deaths over the course of their lifetimes, at a net savings of $406 billion in direct costs and $1.9 trillion in total societal costs.

Oneida County operates a public health clinic through the Department of Health, where children and adults can be immunized and parents can receive immunization counseling and education. The clinic sees an average of 3,500 immunization visits per year. Immunization Clinics are by appointment only by calling 315-798-5747.

For more information on the recommended immunization schedule visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html.