Put Vaccines on Kids' Back-to-School List

As parents start preparing to send their children back to the classroom, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it's a good time to remember that vaccines play an important role in keeping kids healthy.

Make sure your child is up-to-date on immunizations and fully protected from diseases such as measles, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), the agency advises.

"Parents should know that vaccines protect children from many serious illnesses that come from infectious diseases. The risk of being harmed by vaccines is much smaller than the risk of these serious illnesses," said Marion Gruber, FDA’s director of the Office of Vaccines Research and Review.

Most vaccine side effects, such as soreness at the injection site or a mild fever, are minor and temporary.

When getting your child vaccinated, review the vaccine information sheets, Gruber suggested. By law, health care professionals must provide the documents, which outline the benefits and risks of a vaccine, Gruber said.

Before your child is vaccinated, inform your health care provider of any health conditions or concerns.

For more information about vaccines, or to schedule an appointment with Adena Pediatrics, call 740-779-4300.