In the U.S., immunizations are a routine part of well-child visits. Providers offer vaccines for diseases like diphtheria, whooping cough and measles—illnesses we rarely hear about today.
Yolaine Civil, M.D., a pediatrician at Henry Ford Health, has seen firsthand what happens when children don’t have access to vaccines. She’s completed several medical missions in African countries where children get sick and die from vaccine-preventable diseases every day.
What are these diseases? And why do we need vaccines for them? Dr. Civil explains the importance of childhood immunizations.
How Many Lives Do Vaccines Save?
In 1900, up to 30% of babies never reached their first birthday. Many of these deaths were due to diseases we vaccinate against today. “Research shows that vaccines have reduced infant mortality by 40% since the 1970s,” says Dr. Civil. “Worldwide, more than 90 million children have been saved by the measles vaccine alone. And more than 50 million have been saved by vaccines for tetanus, whooping cough, polio and other diseases.”
When you don’t see these diseases in your daily life, it’s hard to be concerned about them. “Many U.S. parents have never seen a child dying of vaccine-preventable diseases like tetanus or measles,” says Dr. Civil. “Immunizations have worked so well that we don’t live in fear of these illnesses here.”
But even if we don’t see them, these diseases still exist. Without a high vaccination rate, we would see more and more children getting sick here in the U.S.
“In countries without widespread vaccination, thousands of children die from these diseases every year,” says Dr. Civil. “If U.S. childhood vaccination rates drop to a lower level, the same thing could happen here.”
What Are the Childhood Vaccines?
Vaccination names can be confusing. DTaP, Hib and MMR? What illnesses do these vaccines prevent? Here’s a breakdown of your child’s immunizations:
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DTaP vaccine
The DTaP vaccine protects your child from:
- Diphtheria, which killed thousands of children each year before the vaccine. “Diphtheria can cause severe skin infections and a thick gray coating in the throat,” says Dr. Civil. “Today, it is rare for a child to die of diphtheria in the U.S.”
- Tetanus, a bacterial illness that causes muscle spasms and painful stiffness. “Babies and children can catch tetanus through a small cut in the skin,” says Dr. Civil. “The vaccine offers nearly 100% protection from this disease.”
- Pertussis, which causes a violent, rapid cough that interferes with breathing. The vaccine is 98% effective against severe disease. “Protection fades slightly over time, so getting regular boosters can help you stay protected,” says Dr. Civil.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines
Hepatitis A and B are viral infections that can cause permanent or fatal liver damage. “Thousands of children used to develop hepatitis A and B,” says Dr. Civil. “Fortunately, vaccines offer greater than 90% protection against these diseases.”
Hib vaccine
The Hib vaccine protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b. “This illness causes brain inflammation, pneumonia and life-threatening blood infections,” says Dr. Civil. “Before the vaccine, thousands of children got very sick or died from this disease. The vaccine prevents about 99% of these cases.”
IPV vaccine
The IPV vaccine protects against polio, once a common childhood illness in the U.S. that causes paralysis and death. “The polio vaccine has nearly 100% protection against this disease, which is why we don’t see it in the U.S. anymore,” says Dr. Civil.
MMR vaccine
The MMR vaccine protects from:
- Measles, which is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. “Measles can cause complications like brain damage, blindness and death,” says Dr. Civil. “The vaccine provides up to 97% protection against this disease.”
- Mumps, which causes painful swelling in the salivary glands, leading to brain damage, loss of fertility and hearing loss. Mumps cases in the U.S. have dropped by more than 99% since the vaccine was introduced in 1967.
- Rubella, also known as German measles, which can cause miscarriage or stillbirth if a person gets the illness while pregnant. The vaccine is 97% effective against rubella.
PCV vaccine
The PCV vaccine protects against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, blood infections and meningitis (brain inflammation). “Babies are most susceptible to this illness because their immune system can’t fight it off,” says Dr. Civil. “Rates of pneumococcal disease have dropped dramatically since vaccines were introduced in the U.S.”
Rotavirus vaccine
Rotavirus is a highly contagious illness that can cause severe, life-threatening diarrhea. “Rotavirus is still common and deadly in unvaccinated areas,” says Dr. Civil. “The vaccine prevents hospitalization in more than 94% of the children who receive it.”
Vaccines Save Lives
It’s hard to imagine that in other parts of the world, thousands of babies and children die from vaccine-preventable diseases. But that is the reality, and it’s helpful to keep this in mind when it’s time to vaccinate your child.
“It’s easy to take vaccines for granted because they are available to every child in the U.S.,” says Dr. Civil. “But we cannot forget that these diseases can come back if we stop vaccinating.”
Once you know about the diseases that vaccines can prevent, you can feel good about giving your child that lifesaving protection. “I’ve cared for children with these diseases, and they are devastating,” says Dr. Civil. “Vaccines have saved millions of children’s lives, and we are so fortunate to have them available to us.”
Reviewed by Yolaine Civil, M.D., a pediatrician who sees patients at Henry Ford Medical Center - New Center One.
