Wisconsin Doctors, Pediatricians, and Family Physicians Urge Parents to Have their Children Immunized Early for 2010-11 School Year

Recent outbreaks of whooping cough in California and measles in Canada serve as early reminders of potential health risk

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians and the Medical Society of Milwaukee County together representing nearly 5,000 physicians statewide, today urged parents throughout Wisconsin to get their children in early to see their family doctor for their annual back-to-school immunization shots. Acting early will help parents avoid longer wait times as school start dates grow closer, and may also help prevent any potential early outbreaks of disease already being experienced in other parts of the U.S. and abroad, according to the organizations.

“Vaccinations are the best way for moms and dads to protect the health of not only their children, but also the community as a whole,” said Dr. Corazon Loteyro, president of the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. “We, as doctors, are hoping that everyone comes in early this year to have their child’s vaccinations updated. August is also National Immunization Awareness Month and a good time to remind newer parents it is recommended a majority of immunizations actually begin taking place while a child is in infancy. Health care providers around the state will work with parents to ensure their children are adequately protected regardless of age and are school-ready.”

Last year in Wisconsin there were 269 cases of whooping cough reported that could have been prevented, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. California is currently dealing with the largest outbreak of whooping cough in 50 years with 1,500 confirmed cases and six infants who have already died. A measles outbreak earlier this year in Canada sickened nearly 20 unvaccinated people and in June, around 700 individuals contracted the disease in Africa.

“Vaccines can and do prevent these types of illnesses that can turn deadly,” Dr. Loteyro said. “We need to make sure parents here in Wisconsin get this message as early as possible.”

Wisconsin law requires that schoolchildren receive a standard immunization series of shots to prevent against polio, diphtheria, measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), tetanus, influenza and pertussis (whooping cough). In 2008, Wisconsin reported a vaccination rate of 79.6 percent. Exemptions are allowed for religious or philosophical beliefs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have set a public health standard rate of 90 percent in 2010.

“Wisconsin can and should do better when it comes to immunization rates,” said Dr. George Morris, president of the Medical Society of Milwaukee County. “Family physicians and pediatricians provide more than 80 percent of immunizations nationwide and know it is critical that parents begin to protect their children as early as possible. It is also never too late to get up to date on vaccinations. Immunizations have become a routine part of healthcare and have eliminated many diseases that have killed or severely disabled people.”

The World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Bank report indicates each year 3 million lives are saved worldwide through childhood immunizations, including 33,000 in the U.S. alone.

For more information on immunization requirements, parents can contact their local family doctor, county health department or visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/index.htm. While most insurance providers cover child immunizations, the CDC provides a Vaccines for Children program that also covers the cost and more information can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/default.htm.

The Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians was established in 1948 to promote and maintain high professional and ethical standards in the practice of Family Medicine, to encourage young people to prepare for active careers in Family Medicine and to help provide continuing education to family physicians. The WAFP is the single largest physician specialty group in Wisconsin with more than 2,500 members. More information is available at www.wafp.org

The Medical Society of Milwaukee County was established in 1846 and represents approximately 2,000 member physicians and their patients. The purpose of MSMC is to provide leadership responsive to the needs of its members and the patients they serve. MSMC collaborates with others to improve the community’s health by maintaining the highest possible standards in the practice of medicine. For more information visit www.medicalsocietymilwaukee.org.