T.J. Samson | Destination Health | February 2020

When is an ounce of prevention worth more than a pound of cure? When it has the potential to save your child’s life. Vaccines are like an ounce of prevention. They don’t take long to give. And insurance usually covers them. But they could keep your child from getting certain diseases— and help keep others safe from those diseases too. Here’s how: 1. Vaccines protect against life- threatening illnesses. Thanks to vaccinations, some diseases that used to injure or kill kids, like polio and smallpox, have been completely or nearly eliminated in the U.S. But other serious illnesses (such as meningitis, measles and whooping cough) are still around. Vaccinat- ing your kids protects them—safely. Doctors and scientists review vaccines to ensure their safety. Very few children have serious side effects. And because most childhood vaccines are 90% to 99% effective in preventing disease, the benefits outweigh any possible side effects for most kids. 2. They protect others. Some diseases, like chickenpox and measles, are highly contagious. But getting your kids vaccinated greatly reduces their risk of catching these diseases—and passing them on to others.That’s especially good news for vulnerable people, including newborns who haven’t had all their shots yet. 3. They save time and money today and tomorrow. Vaccinated kids avoid diseases that could make them miss school.They’re also protected from illnesses that could lead to long-term disability, lost work time and wages, and high medical costs. For more about vaccinations, visit cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules . Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Have a cold or flu? Antibiotics won’t help When you feel lousy, you want to get better—fast. That’s why you might ask your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic if you’re sick with a cold or the flu. But taking one for either infection won’t help at all. Antibiotics only work against certain bacterial infections—not viruses, which cause both colds and the flu. Be aware too: Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them unnecessarily exposes to you to possible side effects like these: ●  ● Dizziness. ●  ● Nausea. ●  ● Diarrhea. ●  ● Yeast infections. What’s more, the overuse of antibiotics is responsible for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These germs are difficult—and sometimes impossible—to treat. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 3 great reasons to vaccinate your kids Wellness 6 DESTINATION HEALTH