(NAPSA)—Polio, whooping cough and measles are the diseases of our parents’ and grandparents’ generations....outdated like eight-track tapes and typewriters. Or are they? In fact, there is real danger that history could repeat itself when it comes to many infectious diseases. Manyparents don’t realize that the germs that cause these diseases still exist today and can infect infants, children and even adults if they are not vaccinated. History showsthat a decrease in immunization sets the stage for the reappearance of the diseases of the past, even when the population was previously protected. “Vaccines are amongthe great- est achievements of modern medicine,” said Alanna Levine, MD, FAAP, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). “But unless people are fully immunized, they are susceptible to these diseases. This is a potentially serious public health issue because manyvaccine-preventable diseases can have dangerous consequences, including seizures, brain damage, blindness, and even death.” Still, not all children in the U.S. are getting their recommended vaccinations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) annual National Immunization Survey, nearly onequarter of children in the U.S. between the ages of 19 and 35 months did not receive the recommendedseries of childhood vaccines in 2008,the last year for which this figure is available. To address this gap, the AAP has launched the Protect Tomorrow campaign. The campaign encourages parents to be better informed about the value of vaccines and talk with their pediatrician to ensure “With vaccines available today for so many diseases, there is no reason why anyone should have to suffer the way Aunt Sweetie did,” said Cile. Jack Bunkley, of Atlanta, was ~ AlannaLevine, MD, FAAP American Academyof Pediatrics their children are up-to-date with their immunizations. The full immunization schedule recommended by the AAP, the CDC and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)is available at ProtectTomorrow.org. The core componentsof the educational campaign are TV and radio public service announcements that encourageall of us to remember the devastation of the diseases that can now be largely prevented by vaccines. To complement the PSAs, there are additional resources online at ProtectTomorrow.org. Three individuals featured in the TV PSArecounttheir past personal experiences with vaccine-preventable diseases. Cile Turner Borman, who grew up in Mississippi, remembers how devastating it was when her Aunt Sweetie died from diphtheria. Her family did not have access to health care, let alone vaccinations, so they watched in pain as Aunt Sweetie died. It wasn’t until her family moved to Detroit and there were vaccine requirements for school admission that they learned about the benefits of immunizations. paralyzed after he contracted polio when he was 27 years old. Only after a slow and painful recovery was he able to walk again. Since being struck with post-polio syndrome two years ago, he now has difficulty walking again. “People should take advantage of vaccines and not take their health for granted,” said Jack, who made sure his children and grandchildren had their vaccinations on time. “I wouldn’t want anyoneto suffer as I did, and with the vaccines that are now available, there are steps parents can take to help protect their children and themselves.” Ann Rittenhouse, of Pasadena, Calif., had measles and chickenpox herself and witnessed the impact chickenpox had on her sons when they were young. “IT urged my son to have his daughter vaccinated,” said Ann. “If there are medical advances thatwill help you or your children avoid illness, then you should take advantage of them.” To find out more about vaccinations and the recommended immunization schedule, talk with your healthcare provider or log on to ProtectTomorrow.org. The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Note to Editors: The Protect Tomorrow campaign is a public health service from the American Academy of Pediatrics with support provided by Sanofi Pasteur.
