Download FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kari Guffey Putnam County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kari Guffey
Putnam County Health Department
660-947-2429
[email protected]
More Than Twenty Percent of Children Not Fully Protected Against VaccinePreventable Disease
“Immunization has been cited as one of the ten great public health achievements of the
20th century. We can now protect children from more vaccine-preventable diseases
than ever before,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for
Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “More than four million children are born each
year in the U.S. and each one will need to be vaccinated. We prevent millions of cases
of disease and thousands of deaths when we vaccinate them.”
There are now vaccines to protect children against 15 diseases before age two. Despite
recent gains in infant immunization coverage, more than 20 percent of the nation’s twoyear-olds are not fully immunized against infectious diseases to which they are
especially vulnerable.
“A substantial number of children in the United States still aren't adequately protected
from vaccine-preventable diseases," said Dr. Schuchat. "The suffering or death of even
one child from a vaccine-preventable disease is an unnecessary human tragedy. Let us
renew our efforts to ensure that no child, adolescent, or adult will have to needlessly
suffer from a vaccine-preventable disease."
The number of cases of most vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths is at an all time
low. Vaccination programs in the United States have contributed to the elimination of
many vaccine-preventable diseases and have greatly reduced the incidence of most
other vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Infants are more vulnerable to many diseases than older children and adults,” said Dr.
Schuchat. “Yet it’s important for adults to also be vaccinated to keep themselves healthy
and to keep from spreading infections to vulnerable people, including children.
Although vaccines have drastically reduced vaccine-preventable diseases, they are still
circulating in many parts of the world and the United States can see a return of these
diseases if we don’t maintain high vaccine coverage levels. Diligent efforts are required
to ensure our immunization programs remain strong to protect our children.
Immunizations are provided free of charge at your local health department.
Please contact Putnam County Health Department at 660.947.2429 for further
details.