The AAP Takes Aim at Alternative Vaccine Schedule

What This Means to You

Since the start of widespread vaccination programs in the United States, cases of formerly common childhood illnesses like measles and diphtheria have declined dramatically. Immunizations have protected millions of kids from potentially deadly diseases and saved thousands of lives. In fact, certain diseases crop up so rarely now that parents sometimes ask if vaccines are even necessary anymore.

This is just one common misconception about immunizations. But in fact, infectious diseases that are rare or nonexistent in the United States because of immunization programs — like measles and polio — are still huge problems in other parts of the world. This makes these diseases just an airplane ride away, as demonstrated recently by measles epidemics affecting unvaccinated U.S. children that were triggered by one infected person entering the country. The reality is that vaccinations still play a crucial role in keeping kids healthy.

It is true that a single child's chance of catching a disease is low if everyone else is immunized. Yet if one person thinks about skipping vaccines, chances are that others are thinking the same thing. And each child who isn't immunized gives these highly contagious diseases one more chance to spread.

It's important to make sure kids get all of the immunizations they need at every age — not just in the infant and toddler years, when most vaccines are given. In fact, routine vaccines and boosters are also recommended between the ages of 4 and 6, 11 and 12, and then again before teens enter college.

And parents should stay up to date with all of their shots. Some childhood vaccines — like the whooping cough vaccine — don't provide lifelong immunity, which means they lose their effectiveness over time. So, not only could you catch some potentially serious diseases, but you could pass them on to your kids, too.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD Date reviewed: January 2009

Source: "The Problem With Dr Bob's Alternative Vaccine Schedule," Pediatrics, January 2009.