Why should I make sure my child is vaccinated?

• Exposure to disease does not always strengthen your child’s immune system (eg, tetanus)³


• The viruses that cause another disease (influenza) often change from year-to-year, so yearly vaccination is recommended


• Getting the disease stimulates the immune system, but your child will have to suffer through the disease


• Serious diseases such as polio, pertussis, Hib, and measles can compromise long-term health, or even result in death


• While sick, your child is at greater risk for other infections³
• Vaccines offer your child a high level of protective immunity without having to go through the disease itself


• Children who start their vaccinations in the first 3 months of life have fewer vaccine-related infections than unvaccinated children³