|
Immunization is the process of making a person immune or resistant to an infectious disease. Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating infectious disease; in 2002, 2 million deaths worldwide were averted by vaccination. Childhood immunizations are especially important because the immune system has yet to fully develop to protect the child from disease. Under-vaccinated children create the potential for outbreaks of disease. Adolescents and adults should also be vaccinated. For example, people, especially the elderly and health care workers, should be vaccinated yearly for the influenza, and adolescents should be vaccinated for meningitis. Many worry about side effects of vaccination, but serious reactions are extremely rare and the risks of not vaccinating are far higher than the risks associated with vaccination. The Marion County Health Department has an immunization program that provides vaccinations to children, adolescents, and adults.
|
|