SAN MARCOS — National Infant Immunization week draws attention to the remarkable achievement that vaccines have made in eliminating diseases that are life-threatening for infants and children. Acknowledging the success of immunizations should not overshadow important concerns about vaccine safety and developing a dialogue between parents and pediatricians. Yet, immunizations remain one of the most significant public health advances in the past 100 years.

Many, if not all, diseases that are prevented by infant immunizations have become so uncommon to the average person, that the illnesses have become almost historic, rather then real threats. Yet, only 50 years ago, polio caused thousands of cases of paralysis and frightened entire neighborhoods. Children were warned to avoid certain places to swim or congregate, and any child with an unknown fever might be sequestered or avoided by others because of the risk of polio. Even as recent as 20 years ago, serious bacterial meningitis, caused by Haemophilus Influenza B, or HIB, killed thousands of children each year and left a greater number with brain damage, deafness, and neurologic disease.

According to Donald Miller, MD MPH FAAP, a pediatrician with North County Health Services, both of these infections, and others, have become incredibly rare, thanks to the effectiveness of infant immunizations.

As most of these illnesses have become a distant memory for pediatricians as well as parents, and as the number of vaccine-preventable diseases have increased, there has been a growing trend of public questioning regarding both the necessity and safety of vaccines. “It is important for parents to be able to engage their pediatrician, and visa versa, in a healthy discussion regarding vaccines and parental concerns,” Miller said. “Vaccines are not without side-effects, and each vaccine has a different profile.

The price being paid for subsequently refusing all vaccines as a response to various sensationalized concerns is that a population of children are susceptible to those infections listed above — infections which have no cure or effective treatment, Miller said. “Those ‘unvaccinated’ children may not get sick or get these infections — the odds are very low. However, the reasons behind their not catching HIB, for example, are not in nutrition or hygiene, but rather because everybody else’s child is getting the vaccine.”

Miller stresses that it is important to talk with your child’s pediatrician as early as possible about vaccines, and develop an understanding of the devastating infections that can be prevented by immunizations.

The Web sites for the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) have up-to-date information regarding vaccines, side-effects, research, and common questions. Pediatricians and public health experts, as parents themselves, want to be sure that the vaccines given to infants are safe and effective.

Access to immunization has been greatly enhanced in San Diego County. All parents can have their infants vaccinated, even those who may not have insurance coverage or the ability to pay for them. The San Diego County Web site (www.sdiz.org) provides information on locations where vaccines are available for families who are unable to find access to obtain them, as well as other helpful links and articles.