The Importance of Staying Up-To-Date with Children's Routine Vaccines During the Coronavirus Pandemic
It’s National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), a yearly observance highlighting the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases.
This year’s NIIW comes at a particularly important time, as we cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Families who are sheltering in place may wonder if it’s safe to take their children for routine medical appointments. You may have heard that some clinics are rescheduling well visits for children over age five, or switching to telehealth visits.
However, it is especially important to continue to monitor the growth of children age 0-5, and to stay up-to-date with their routines immunizations. During coronavirus, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC consider well-child checks for children who need vaccines to be a priority.
This article from UnityPoint Health does an excellent job listing reasons why, including:
Routine vaccines may prevent some of the complications associated with COVID-19.
Vaccines can prevent simultaneous infections.
Vaccines reduce the burden on the medical system, so that hospital beds are not taken up by patients with whooping cough, pneumonia, or meningitis, and can instead be available for patients with COVID-19.
Vaccinating now maintains community immunity and prevents future outbreaks.
For more information on each of the above, see: Are Routine Vaccines Important During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
New CDC guidelines for clinics
The CDC has provided new guidelines for healthcare clinics to help providers maintain proper sanitization, optimize supplies, and protect patients and workers from coronavirus exposure.
If you have any concerns about taking your child for a well visit, call your provider and ask about the measures they're taking to help protect patients.
Learn more
Questions about vaccines? Register for a virtual Community Workshop, and listen in from the comfort of your own home.