Childhood Immunizations:
Health Story

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, January 13 and March 2, 2008
Show 502

Immunizations protect all of us from a wide variety of dangerous viruses and diseases. It's important for small children to get their shots because they are especially vulnerable. Vaccines work by helping the human body fight infections, often with a small dose of the infection itself. Because of this, some children, as well as adults, may have a slight risk of a reaction or other side effects. Vaccines are licensed, tested for safety, and updated every year, so the risk of reaction is very small compared to the benefit of immunization. It's estimated that one year's worth of childhood immunizations in the US prevents 14 million infections and 33,000 deaths. Still, some parents worry and choose to hold off until their kids are older. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends preteens get several vaccines, including tetanus and meningitis.