JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Monday marks the beginning of National Infant Immunization Week, a crucial time to emphasize the role vaccines play in safeguarding children from preventable diseases.
While illnesses like measles were once considered a thing of the past, they are making a concerning comeback in some states due to a decline in childhood vaccination rates.
Recommended Videos
National Infant Immunization Week runs from April 21 to April 28, coinciding with public health officials tracking the return of several vaccine-preventable diseases. This time serves as a critical reminder for families with young children.
According to the CDC, there have been more than 800 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. so far this year—the highest number in nearly five years. Texas has reported the most cases, while Florida has reported just one confirmed case.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. back in 2000, but this data starkly reminds us of its resurgence, attributed to lower vaccination rates.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is also on the rise. Public health experts stress that these outbreaks highlight the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates.
The first two years of a child’s life are particularly vulnerable, experts say. Children are not fully protected until they have completed their vaccine series, which typically occurs around 15 to 18 months of age.
Therefore, it is recommended that those around them—parents, siblings, grandparents, and caregivers—stay up to date on their vaccinations as well.
