KING COUNTY, WA - Immunizations are one of the greatest medical success stories in human history and have saved millions of lives. Today, as Public Health Week (April 2 -8) gets underway, Public Health - Seattle & King County is launching a new Immunization website to provide residents with the best and latest immunization and vaccine information.
"The recent measles epidemic in King County is an excellent example of the importance of vaccines," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Those who weren't immunized were at greater risk of infection, but we were able to prevent a larger outbreak due to our high immunization rates."
The new Public Health Immunization website can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/health/immunization.
The website offers up-to-date information on:
- Vaccine recommendations for children and adults
- Hours and locations for Public Health immunization clinics
- Travel immunization services
- Vaccine safety
- Tuberculin testing and treatment
- Facts for health care providers
- General vaccine issues and current events
King County has the third highest child immunization rate among urban areas in the United States. Nevertheless, despite the obvious benefits of immunizations, some residents still choose not to get immunized.
"There is misinformation about the benefits and risks of immunizations," said Betsy Hubbard, Public Health's Immunization Coordinator. "Immunizations are very safe, and children are far more likely to be harmed by serious infectious diseases than by immunizations."
Immunization facts
- Immunizations work naturally by using the body's own immune system, making it stronger and teaching it to fight diseases.
- Giving a child several vaccines at the same time does not harm a normal immune system. Vaccines do not overload one's immune system or reduce its ability to fight off other infections.
- Serious infectious diseases largely under control in the United States are only a plane ride away, so immunizations need to be current.
- Everyone in a community who can be immunized should be immunized in order to ensure that the whole community is protected.
According to Hubbard, "Even if a small number of people doesn't get immunized, the whole community becomes vulnerable. Diseases spread through communities by infecting unimmunized people and a very small percentage of people for whom immunizations do not work."
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health - Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. |
