I did not know this until recently, but August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Did you know that?
Infectious diseases killed thousands of children and adults in the United States before immunizations were widely used. Check out these statistics:
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Before 1985, Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) caused serious infections in 20,000 children each year, including meningitis (12,000 cases) and pneumonia (7,500 cases). In 2002, there were 34 cases of Hib disease.
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In the 1964-1965 epidemic, there were 12.5 million cases of rubella (German measles). Of the 20,000 infants born with congenital rubella syndrome, 11,600 were deaf, 3,580 were blind, and 1,800 were mentally retarded as a result of the infection. There were 9 cases of rubella in 2004 and only four cases of congenital rubella between 2001 and 2004.
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Before 1963, more than 3 million cases of measles and 500 deaths from measles were reported each year. More than 90% of children had measles by age 15. In 2002, there were 44 cases of measles
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In 1952, polio paralyzed more than 21,000 people. In 2002, there were no cases of polio in the United States.
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In the early 1940s, there was an average of 175,000 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) per year, resulting in the deaths of 8,000 children annually. In 2002, 9,771 cases were reported.
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In the 1920s, there were 100,000 to 200,000 cases of diphtheria each year and 13,000 people died from the disease. In 2002, there was only one case of diphtheria in the United States.
Despite these amazing results, people in the U.S. still die from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. However, by staying current on recommended vaccinations, we can protect ourselves, our families, our friends and our communities from serious, life-threatening infections. Recommended vaccinations begin soon after birth and continue throughout life.
We have a list of recommended immunizations at the Group Health Cooperative website. I encourage you to take a look! You can find a schedule for both children and adults.
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