LAWTON, Okla_Now that August
is here, it means school will start in just a couple of weeks. Along with
getting backpacks and school supplies ready there are a few more important
things parents need to do before they send the kids back into the classroom
including getting vaccinated. This year, there are a few extra shots added to
the list you'll want to know about.
August is National
Immunization Awareness Month so pediatricians say there's not a better time
than now to get your kids' vaccinations up to date.
This year
doctors are encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated for whooping
cough, polio and the option of HPV for junior high students.
"It's
important for them to be vaccinated because their bodies should have higher
levels of anti-bodies to protect themselves from the diseases," Dr. Minda
Roan said.
Dr. Roan said
this year they are expecting to give out at least 1,000 shots at their practice
before the school year starts. They are mainly concerned with whooping cough
for the 4-6 year old age group. She said this will hopefully slow down the
outbreak the United States
has seen over the past year.
"There is
a comeback of the whooping cough because there is prevalence of younger mothers
who are having babies, 14, 16, 18 years old 21 and we believe they didn't have
their vaccinations in high school against whooping cough."
The whooping
cough scare brought Amy Osburn to Roan's office with her second grader making
sure he was up to date on his back to school vaccinations. She said far too
often she hears about parents who disagree with immunizations which is why she
wants her child to have all of his.
"It's not
a good way to get the year started because more children can get sick from the
kids that aren't vaccinated, just like now with whooping cough has started back
up and I don't want my kids to get that."
Dr. Roan said
immunization is key to a getting your children's school year off on the right
foot.
"When they
are healthy in the classroom they're not sick. They focus more they are more
energetic life is easier, learning is easier."
Dr. Roan said not to procrastinate on getting your shots, the closer to
the beginning of the first week of school the offices will be packed, so to
avoid waiting, go early.
