A Parent’s Story: Vaccines Protect Immunocompromised People Like Me
Many people have health conditions that compromise their immune systems. This makes them more susceptible to infection as well as unable to fight disease after they have been infected. They often receive special vaccinations to protect them as much as possible.
However, it is the herd immunity within the community in which we live that keeps us safe. By vaccinating yourself and your children, you reduce the likelihood of the entire “herd” being exposed to a disease, and therefore reduce the risk of individuals with compromised immune systems contracting the disease.
Today, we share Tom’s story. Tom is a Connecticut parent who has a special condition that makes his body less able to fight disease. When mumps (a vaccine-preventable disease) broke out on his daughter’s college campus, he was unable to visit her and their family experienced a major health scare.
Read an excerpt of the story below, with a link to the full text:
By: Tom, father, Danbury, CT
My family and I have experienced firsthand both the relief of being covered by vaccines and the fear of contracting a deadly disease through exposure to others who have not been vaccinated.
My wife and I have three grown daughters. Our youngest is allergic to all trees, grasses, and flowers. She must visit her doctor’s office on a monthly basis to receive injections that enable her to live a normal life, as she encounters these allergens on a daily basis.
In 2013, I was diagnosed with a liver condition. When my liver is inflamed, it affects the function of not only my liver but also my kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. All of these organs can become susceptible to failure without warning.
After I received my diagnosis, because I was at high risk for reduced liver and immune system function and organ shutdown, I received the hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HIV, shingles and tetanus vaccines to better protect my body and continue to enjoy my quality of life. My family and I could then live with less fear about the risk of my exposure to these deadly diseases.
However, a recent experience brought all of these fears back to life. My youngest daughter attends college in North Carolina. In early October, the school informed us that there were three suspected cases of mumps on campus. Several days later, the number of cases jumped to 11 and then to 18. Some of these students missed weeks of classes, and a few students had to drop classes after more than three absences.
Read the rest of the story in our Parent Stories section.
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