Which vaccinations are important?

Why parents should get vaccinations for their children

There are confusing messages in the media about vaccinations.  First we are told that certain diseases have been eliminated because of vaccines, while at the same time we are warned that it is important to continue vaccinating our children, adults and the elderly.  The physicians at Germantown Primary Care Associates in Germantown, Maryland will work with parents to provide the appropriate vaccinations to ensure their children are protected.  It is true that some diseases, such as diphtheria and polio are almost extinct in the United States because of vaccinations.  When we began vaccinating, these diseases killed many people.  While vaccinations have helped lower the incidence of these diseases, vaccines may not completely eradicate them.  Even if only a few cases of these diseases occur annually, anyone not vaccinated against the disease can become infected and then spread the disease to others.  If we stop the vaccinations, the disease will eventually return with the same intensity as before.

Vaccinations protect the future

When we vaccinate, it is not just to protect our children, but also our grandchildren and their grandchildren.  For example, we were able to completely eradicate smallpox within the United States with vaccinations and our children no longer need the smallpox vaccination.  Similarly, if we continue to vaccinate our children against diseases such as polio and meningitis, parents in the future may have the freedom of worrying about these diseases infecting, crippling or killing their children. Vaccinations are important to protecting the welfare of our children.  The physicians and healthcare providers at Germantown Primary Care Associates can provide all the vaccinations your children should have.