FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dec. 4, 2012

As a family medicine physician, I want to write this to give moms a concise guideline of what is recommended to keep you healthy for your families. The medical world can be difficult to navigate, so my goal is to give you a snapshot of what you need to do to make sure you are up to date! To be able to take care of your family, you’ve first got to take care of yourself!

Vaccines help protect babies and young children against 14 serious diseases before their 2nd birthday. Even though you are keeping her safe from diseases, it’s hard to see your child cry when she gets her shots. But you can take some steps before, during, and after a vaccine visit to ease the short-term pain and stress of getting shots. 

RENO, NEV. (August 5, 2015)— Summer break is almost over and now is the time for children and teens to receive school-required immunizations. Starting Monday, August 10, Washoe County students head back to the classroom and University of Nevada, Reno students follow closely behind with classes beginning Monday, August 24.

Children heading into daycare, elementary, middle school and college are required, by Nevada State Law, to be compliant and up-to-date with their immunizations.

Back in the 1970s, my daughter was in her third trimester and was expecting her first child.  She and her family were beyond excited for the new addition, and to start down the path of parenthood.

Cocooning. When I hear that word I instantly think of the 1980s movie Cocoon (click here to reminisce via the movie trailer).  

But in the immunization world, it has a whole new meaning. Cocooning is enveloping the most vulnerable members of our community in a circle of protection by making sure that everyone around them is immunized.

Early in May, I noticed a slight rash on the back of my leg. But considering I’d been working in the yard and it was on the back of my leg, I honestly didn’t pay much attention.

That is, until a couple of days later, when it woke me up at 2:00 a.m. with sharp, searing pain shooting through the nerves in my leg. Some time spent on the Internet left me pretty much convinced I had been bitten by a brown recluse spider and that I was probably going to have to have my leg amputated.

As parents, we recognize the importance of reading labels. I’m just as guilty as the next person: Follow me around the grocery store during my weekly shopping trip, and you’ll see that I’m definitely one of those people who stands in the aisles reading labels of every packaged food I buy, and I quickly reject anything that has a laundry list of ingredients with a lot of unfamiliar, unpronounceable items.

It is true that some vaccine ingredients could be toxic…at much higher doses. But any substance — even water or the sun — can be toxic given a large enough dose. And at a very low dose, even a highly toxic substance can be safe. Just look at Botox — one of the most toxic substances known to hu­manity — which is injected in small quantities into a person’s face to reduce wrinkles.

Vaccines keep us healthy and protect us from catching devastating diseases. But what about the children who have parents who can’t afford vaccines?

The good news: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most insurance companies to cover the cost of all recommended vaccines (including seasonal flu) without charging a deductible, copayment or coinsurance. Most are free as long as they are administered by an “in-network” provider.