This week is National Infant Immunization Week, emphasizing the importance of protecting infants from diseases preventable by vaccinations. Lynn Wente with Warren County Public Health tells KNIA News reports of measles outbreaks across the country have already risen well past last year’s total of cases, and getting vaccinated is important to protect those who are not old enough to receive a vaccine.

“As measles you can’t have your first vaccination until 12 months of age, so those infants are very susceptible. So if they are exposed at a young age by other children or parents, they will have the most severe side effects of contracting measles. So it’s important the rest of the community is vaccinated so they don’t become ill.“

Wente also stressed the importance of taking information from a doctor or primary healthcare provider, and not getting information from social media.
For more information on vaccines, visit Vaccine Info