Are Vaccinations Safe for My Child?

The majority of parents choose to vaccinate their children according to the standard doctor-recommend schedule; however, many parents still have questions about vaccination. If you are wondering whether vaccinating your child is safe, the answer is yes: the United States currently has the safest vaccine supply in history and millions of children safely receive their vaccines every year. A vaccine can prevent infections and diseases that would once kill or cause lasting harm to infants, children, and adults. An unvaccinated child is at risk for contracting diseases such as whooping cough and measles, which can cause severe illness, pain, disability, and even death. A vaccine uses extremely small amounts of antigens to help your child’s immune system learn to recognize and fight serious diseases. Antigens are parts of germs that activate the immune system. This allows your child to gain future protection from a disease without getting sick.

While some children do experience side effects from their vaccines, the main effects tend to be extremely mild and go away within a few days. Serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions, are extremely rare and medical professionals are trained to handle them if they do occur. In addition, all legitimate scientific and medical studies into vaccinations have concluded that there is no link between vaccinations and autism.

The disease-prevention benefits of vaccinating your child far outweigh the possible side effects for the vast majority of children. The only exceptions are cases where a child has a strong allergic reaction to a previous vaccine dose, a serious chronic medical condition (such as cancer), or a disease that weakens the immune system.

Babysitting Reminders

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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

PARENTS ____________________	POLICE ____________________
NEIGHBOR(S) ____________________	POISON HELP LINE 1-800-222-1222
DOCTOR ____________________	OTHER EMERGENCY CONTACT ____________________
FIRE/RESCUE ____________________	HOME ADDRESS ____________________

PARENTS SHOULD

Meet the sitter and check references and training in advance.
Be certain the sitter has had first aid training and knows CPR.
Be sure the sitter is at least 13 years old and mature enough to handle common emergencies.
Have the sitter spend time with you before babysitting to meet the children and learn their routines.
Show the sitter around the house. Point out fire escape routes and potential problem areas. Instruct the sitter to leave the house right away in case of fire and to call the fire department from a neighbor's house or mobile phone.
Discuss feeding, bathing, and sleeping arrangements for your children.
Tell your sitter of any allergies or specific needs your children have. Leave a note with your children's dates of birth and approximate weights in case these are needed by medical professionals.
Have emergency supplies available, including a flashlight, first aid chart, and first aid supplies.
Tell the sitter where you will be and when you will return.
Be sure any guns are stored unloaded in a locked cabinet, and lock and store the ammunition in a separate place.
Provide and install appropriate car safety seats and booster seats if the sitter will need to drive the children in a car.

SITTERS SHOULD

Be prepared for an emergency.
Always call or text for help if there are any problems or questions.
Never open the door to strangers.
Never leave the children alone in the house—even for a minute.
Never give the children any medicine or food unless instructed to do so by the parents.
Be patient with a child who is unhappy or who cries when the parents leave. Try a different activity, read a book to the child, or suggest playing in the yard. If a baby is crying and cannot be soothed, it is OK to put the baby in a safe place, like a crib, and walk away for a few minutes.

The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.