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Immunizations: Facts and Details

Why immunize?

Immunizations help the body’s immune system do its work by developing protection against future infections, as if we were exposed to the natural disease. The good news is, with vaccines, you don’t have to get sick to be protected.

Why immunize children?

Children under age five are especially susceptible to disease because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses to fight infection. By immunizing on Time (by age 2), you can protect your child from disease and also protect others at school, daycare and in the community.

Why immunize preteens/adolescents?

Immunity from some childhood vaccines can decrease over Time, so people need to get another dose of many vaccines during their pre-teen years. Also, as children move into adolescence, they are at greater risk of catching certain diseases.

Why do adults need immunizations?

Some adults incorrectly assume that the vaccines they received as children will protect them for the rest of their lives. Generally this is true, except that:

What about travel immunizations?

Vaccines are recommended to protect travelers from illnesses present in other parts of the world and to prevent the importation of infectious diseases across international borders.

Which vaccinations you need depends on a number of factors, including your destination, whether you will be spending Time in rural areas, the season of the year you are traveling, your age, health status, and previous immunizations.

Current Travel Recommendations:

Please visit the CDC Travel website or call a Sedgwick County Immunization Nurse at (316) 660-7362.

What if my child doesn’t start immunizations on time, or gets behind schedule?  

Children who have fallen behind schedule or have never been vaccinated can catch up. The shots already given will still count, and the child will develop immunity.

Most children’s vaccines are available on a sliding fee scale. Please call (316) 660‐7300 to learn more about specific immunizations.

What if we stopped vaccinating?

Almost unknown diseases would stage a comeback. Before long we would see epidemics of diseases that are nearly under control today. More people would get sick and more would die.