What you need to know about immunizations from your Katy physician 

There is a lot of information about immunizations to sift through, and not all of it is accurate. You may be wondering what to believe. The fact is immunizations are one of the most vital and one of the easiest ways to protect your child from serious and even fatal diseases. Dr. Amisha Patel at Just For Kids Pediatrics, in Katy, Texas, wants to help you separate fact from fiction when it comes to immunizations.

He wants you to know you should be confident getting your kids immunized because:

Vaccines work; they are 90% to 99% effective in disease prevention and have saved millions of lives over the past 50 years.

Vaccines are safe; they are tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians before they are recommended for children.

The current recommendations from the CDC for children’s immunizations from birth to 18 years old:

• (Hep B) Hepatitis B
• (Dtap) Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
• (Hib) Haemophilus influenza type B
• (IPV) Polio
• (PCV13) Pneumococcal conjugate
• (RV) Rotavirus
• (MMR) Measles, mumps, rubella
• (Varicella) Chickenpox
• (HepA) Hepatitis A
• (HPV) Human papillomavirus
• (MCV4) Meningococcal conjugate
• (Influenza) Flu

For a handy, printable immunization schedule, please click on this link: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf

Remember your child won’t be able to attend daycare or school if their immunizations are not up to date. But there is an even more important reason to get your child immunized. They prevent serious and even fatal diseases.

Influenza has caused hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, millions of illness, and thousands of deaths worldwide just in a single season! Young children are one of the most at-risk groups for serious flu complications. The flu is just one example of a disease that is easily preventable with immunization.

Don’t wait to get your child vaccinated. Immunizations are a vital part of your child’s healthcare. They are an easy, economical way to protect your child. It’s time to call Dr. Amisha Patel at Just For Kids Pediatrics in Katy, Texas. She is your partner in healthcare for your child. Get your child protected by calling today!