Vaccines are an important key to preventing many infectious diseases and in saving lives.  They are given for the following reasons:

1. To prevent common diseases.  Vaccines prevent disease in the people who receive them. They also protect those they come in contact with who may not be able to get vaccinated.  Vaccine-preventable diseases are costly, resulting in doctor's visits, hospitalizations, and premature deaths. Sick children can also cause their parents to lose time from work.
2. To prevent infections that could easily reappear.  Diseases including measles and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis are no longer common in this country due to high immunization levels in the community.  If immunization levels in our schools or communities are low, outbreaks of these diseases may occur.
3. To prevent diseases common in other parts of the world.  Although some diseases have been completely eliminated (polio) from this country, they still occur in other parts of the world.  The diseases are sometimes brought into this country through international travel.  Immunization protects individuals and decreases the chance of an outbreak happening.
   

Many people think of chickenpox (varicella) as a mild disease, but it may be severe in some infants, adolescents, and adults. It can also cause secondary bacterial infections, dehydration, pneumonia and central nervous system involvement.

himerosal is a mercury containing substance used as a preservative in vaccines since the 1930's.  No harmful effects have been reported from the thimerosal in vaccines other than a few allergic reactions to mercury. In response to the FDA Modernization Act of 1997 thimerosal was eliminated from most childhood recommended vaccines.  NH Immunization Program vaccines are thimerosal free except for some brands of the influenza vaccine.

NH Statutes state that a child may be exempt from immunization only if:

1. A licensed physician certifies that immunization against a particular disease may be detrimental to the child's health; or 
2. A parent or legal guardian objects to immunization because of religious beliefs and signs a notarized form stating that the child has not been immunized because of religious beliefs.

Immunization information is available on the Internet, in newspapers, magazines and books.  Ownership of the site or article should be clear and information about the author should be available.  The information provided should be based on sound scientific study, be reviewed by other experts and the findings be reproducible.  The findings should also be endorsed by groups or institutions dedicated to science, such as professional associations or universities.  Additional information through e-mail, postal address, telephone number, reading list or source list should be available if you need it.  Several organizations devoted to our children's health, including the National Immunization Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; provide excellent information to parents and healthcare professionals through their web sites.

The "minimum" interval is the shortest time between two doses of a vaccine series in which an adequate response to the second dose can be expected.  In 2001, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) adopted a four-day grace period for all vaccine doses.  If a vaccine is given prior to the minimum age or minimum interval by five (5) or more days that dose is considered invalid and the dose does not count.  The dose should be repeated.  The repeat dose should be spaced after the invalid dose by the recommended minimum interval.  Also, the dose must also be repeated if the child is younger then the recommended minimum age when the vaccine was administered.

The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act requires that parents/guardians or adult patients be given a VIS before administering a vaccine containing diphtheria, tetanus, Pertussis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, Hib, polio, or pneumococcal polysaccharide or conjugate, meningococcal, and influenza vaccine.  A VIS must be provided prior to each dose, not just the first dose.  Providers should be sure to use the most current version of each VIS.  Current VISs and their dates are available from the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) website.

Some vial stoppers are made with natural rubber that may contain latex.  Latex may  be present in very small quantities in the vaccine or on the needle as it passes through the stopper.  Persons with anaphylactic reactions to latex should generally not be given vaccines in contact with natural rubber, either in the vial or syringe.  Persons with latex allergies that are not anaphylactic may be vaccinated as usual.