Why These Doctors and Nurses Want You to Vaccinate Your Kids
This spring and summer, the Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) has been amplifying the voices of parents who immunize through the Give Your Kids A Shot campaign on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. In response to the recent dramatic rise in measles cases, we asked moms and dads to share why they get their kids vaccinated. More than 60 parents stepped up, from stay-at-home moms to congressional champions! Now, Sabin widened the campaign to include people on the frontlines of health.
The following are quotes we received from health care professionals about why they encourage parents to get their kids vaccinated.
Want to share your reason? Tell us why you #GiveYourKidsAShot using the hashtag and tagging @sabinvaccine on social media.
“Childhood vaccines are probably the greatest success story in the history of medicine. In 42+ years of high-volume primary care pediatrics, I have never encountered a patient who has suffered a permanent injury from a childhood vaccine.”
Dr. David Tayloe, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, emphasizes the value of vaccines in saving a child’s life from preventable diseases. Thank you for sharing your message, Dr. Tayloe!
“I encourage parents to get their kids vaccinated because it is in their best interest and provides them with protection from many infectious diseases that can have serious consequences.”
Dr. Amesh Adalja, selected by STAT News as one of the top 50 physicians to follow on Twitter, tells us why he encourages parents to give their kids a shot at protecting themselves.
“I encourage parents to get their kids vaccinated because vaccines help the community to stay healthy!”
Natalie Sharp Chaney kicks off a great nursing career by giving a shoutout to vaccines. Thanks, Natalie!
“They are safe and they save children from sickness, disability and death.”
Dr. Koyejo Oyerinde, a general pediatrician based in Minot, North Dakota, advocates for the benefit of vaccines. Thank you, Dr. Oyerinde, for spreading the message that vaccines work!
“Vaccines are among the safest medical interventions that can make a real impact in terms of preventing disease and death. Vaccinating your child is very low-risk, and is proven to help protect them from deadly diseases.”
Dr. Kristen Walsh, mom of teenage boys and horseback riding enthusiast, reiterates the importance vaccines have had in a long history of preventing childhood diseases.
“I encourage parents to get their kids vaccinated because not everyone can get vaccinated so by choosing not to vaccinate you are not only risking your own child’s health but perhaps the health of the newborn cousin or the immune compromised person who uses the grocery cart after you at the store or her friend at school who is just now in remission.”
We thank Jennifer Hedrick, a nurse, who beautifully highlighted just how important vaccines can be to children who are too young to get vaccinated as well as immuno-compromised people. Vaccines are vital in holding together the fabric of community immunity!
“I get saddened by deaths caused by vaccine preventable diseases. So I would like us to control those deaths.”
Rachel Nakatugga, program manager for East Africa Center for Vaccines and Immunization (ECAVI), is hopeful that together, the health of the East African region can be improved through immunization. Thank you for contributing to the campaign, Rachel!
This fall, we encourage parents, health care professionals, scientists and teachers to continue to tell us why you #GiveYourKidsAShot.
