April 25, 2023
April 24-30 is National Infant Immunization Week, which highlights the importance of protecting children two years and younger from diseases that vaccines can prevent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, keeping up with children’s checkups and routine vaccinations is critical to protecting against life-threatening diseases.
The same is true for older children, teens and adults. Immunizations save lives and are the best way to protect yourself against certain infectious diseases and reduce the chance of epidemics. Preventing the spread of disease is also very important for people with weak immune systems. They may not be able to get vaccines, or vaccines may not work well for them. Their only protection is for others to get vaccinated so illnesses are less common.
Other reasons vaccines are important:
- They cost less than getting treated for the disease.
- The risk of getting a disease is much greater than the risk of having an adverse reaction to the vaccine.
- Kids often need them to enter school or day care. And you may need them for your job or international travel.
Most side effects from vaccines are minor, if they occur at all. They may include:
- Redness, mild swelling, or soreness where the shot was given
- A slight fever
- Drowsiness, crankiness and poor appetite
- A mild rash 7 to 14 days after chicken pox or measles/mumps/rubella shots
- Temporary joint pain after a measles/mumps/rubella shot
Encourage your employees to ask their doctor or pharmacist about other reactions that could occur. Serious reactions, such as trouble breathing or a high fever, are rare. Anyone experiencing an unusual reaction should call their doctor.
Vaccines are safe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration carefully evaluates all vaccines for safety. Federal law requires health professionals to report any reaction following an immunization to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System. Learn more about how vaccine safety is checked.
As an important part of our preventive care coverage, Asuris covers immunizations with no out-of-pocket cost to employees when they’re obtained from in-network providers. Please share our preventive care benefits page and our preventive care brochure with your employees.
Questions? Contact your account representative.