We look forward to many things, sometimes for months, but some events are more special than others — whether it’s a child’s first birthday, your best friend’s wedding, or a long-awaited family reunion. However, instead of celebrating with your loved ones, you find yourself at home, feverish, achy, and bedridden, watching the moments unfold through social media or missing them entirely. This is especially devastating for children who will now have to stay home after contracting an infectious disease. Even worse, it is a disease that could have been prevented with a vaccination.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average % of children vaccinated by age two for infectious diseases such as measles and chickenpox is 84%. This means about 16% of this population has the potential to miss out on important events. Even more, the CDC has seen a recent decline in vaccination rates for kindergartners. At the start of the 2019–2020 school year, vaccination rates were about 95%. At the start of the 2022–2023 school year, it fell to 93%.
This may seem minor, but the number represents hundreds of thousands of children. This situation could open the door for the spreading of infectious diseases in schools, such as the flu and shingles, which are common causes of missed life events and serious health complications.
The National Foundation for Infectious Disease spoke with Emily, a previously healthy and active 13-year-old who faced a life-threatening situation when she developed severe flu complications just days before her 14th birthday. After being diagnosed with the flu, her condition got worse, resulting in her needing to be rushed to the emergency department and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with respiratory distress, septic shock, and severe lung damage. Emily ended up in a medically induced coma and on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, most commonly known as a life support machine. Her family later shared that the flu vaccine might have saved her from this life-threatening experience. After three months of intensive treatment, followed by rehabilitation and physical therapy, she made a full recovery. Now Emmily advocated for annual flu vaccinations to prevent severe flu complications.
Even historical stories highlight the regret of not taking immunization more seriously. Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers, expressed deep regret for not inoculating his son against smallpox, a decision he regretted for the rest of his life after the child succumbed to the disease.
Consider these stories if you’re on the fence about getting vaccinated or think it’s unnecessary for you. It’s not just about avoiding a bad case of the flu or a mild cold — it’s about avoiding regret. It’s about ensuring you don’t look back and wish you had done something differently when you had the chance. If you’re uncertain about which vaccinations your children need, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional who can provide accurate and reliable information.
Schedule your vaccines for flu, COVID-19, HPV, meningitis, shingles, or any other preventable disease. This way, you can avoid missing out on those special moments and instead live your life fully, knowing you’ve done everything you can to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Sources:
National Foundations for Infectious Diseases: Emmily’s Story (Flu)