Routine immunizations are essential preventive care for children, adolescents, and adults. They help keep you, your children, and our community safe. Dr. Celina Clift is a board-certified pediatrician at Tanana Valley Clinic and counsels parents and children every day about the importance of immunizations. Dr. Dacey Brooke is a third year pediatric resident doctor from Seattle Children’s Hospital who is continuing her pediatric training here in Fairbanks.  Drs. Clift and Brooke share their valuable immunization advice:

Q.        First of all, how do vaccines work?  

A.         The vaccines that we administer are dead, or a weakened version of the germ, or part of the germ that causes the disease in question. When we are exposed to the germ in vaccine form, our immune system, which is the body's germ-fighting machine, is able to create infection-fighting proteins called antibodies. Antibodies protect us from contracting the disease if and when we are exposed to the actual disease. 

Q.        Why are immunizations important?  

A.         Vaccinations not only protect your child from deadly diseases, such as polio, tetanus, and diphtheria, but they also keep other children safe by eliminating or greatly decreasing dangerous diseases that used to spread from child to child. 

It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it after it occurs. 

Because vaccinations are so critical, the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) has declared that well-child visits and vaccinations are essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Q.        What are the recommended immunizations for children by age?  

A.         You can find the recommended vaccine schedule at www.cdc.gov

Q.        What is the best way to keep track of immunizations?  

A.         It is recommended that parents keep a careful record of your child’s shots. Although your doctor's office will also keep track, people change doctors, records get lost, and the person ultimately responsible for keeping track of your child's immunizations is you. Ask your child’s doctor for an immunization record form. 

We recommend that you think about your child's record as you would a birth certificate and keep it with your other essential documents. 

Q.        Because of the current pandemic, we’ve missed a few immunizations. What should we do?  

A.         If your child missed a dose of vaccine, they do not need to start the whole series over again, and they can pick up where they left off. The previous immunizations are still effective, and your doctor will just resume the immunization schedule. If you are due for immunizations, it is recommended that you contact your provider to catch up on vaccinations now. 

Q.        Is it safe to come to Tanana Valley Clinic during the pandemic? 

A.         That’s a really good question and one that we’re asked regularly. Yes, it is safe to come to the clinic. Tanana Valley Clinic has enacted strict safety protocols to keep our patients and staff safe during this challenging time. Our safety precautions include screening all individuals before their appointment for symptoms, mask requirements, social distancing at check in, PPE, and stringent cleaning protocols. We are confident in our ability to see patients during this time and provide the high standard of care that you expect and deserve.

Q.        I’ve heard that the MMR immunization can cause autism – is that true?  

A.         We understand your concern and no, it is not true. The misbelief that vaccinations lead to autism dates back to a study published in 1998 that has been discredited. Since then, numerous scientific studies have been reviewed and do not support a link between vaccines — or any of their ingredients — and autism.   

Q.        Can getting multiple vaccines at once harm my baby?  

A.         The recommended vaccine schedule is safe for your baby. 

Babies have stronger immune systems than you might think, and they can handle far more germs than what they receive from vaccines. 

In fact, the amount of germs in vaccines is just a small percentage of the germs babies' immune systems deal with every day. Occasionally, kids can have a reaction to a vaccine like a mild fever or rash. But the risk of reactions is small compared with the health risks associated with the diseases they prevent, and do not happen because the baby got several vaccines at once.

Q.        Do you have children and did your children receive the recommended vaccines?  

A.         Absolutely they did, and here’s why:

1. Immunizations protect children from disease. Medical advances mean that children can be protected against many serious diseases. In fact, several diseases that historically killed thousands have now been completely eradicated, and many are close to extinction due to effective vaccines. For example, the United States has been polio free since 1979. 
2. Vaccinations are safe and effective. Doctors, scientists and health care researchers only approve vaccines after long and careful reviews. Even though vaccines may cause some discomfort, it is minimal compared to the pain and discomfort caused by the onset of these diseases. Side effects of the vaccinations, such as allergic reactions, are uncommon, and the disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccinations are actually much higher than the possible side effects for almost all children.
3. Childhood vaccines contribute to herd immunity. We’ve heard the term herd immunity related to COVID-19, but it has been around a long time and is central to the theory behind vaccination. It means that when enough people are immune to a disease, the spread of the disease slows down a lot. This protects people who are too young for certain vaccines (such as newborn babies) and people who have problems with their immune systems. Once a large proportion of a community is immune to a disease, it can reduce the transmission of this disease and protect vulnerable individuals. Therefore, getting your child vaccinated not only helps your own child, but can help keep others safe as well. 

Q:         Why is it important to get my family vaccinated against influenza?

A:         It is important to get vaccinated against the influenza virus (“the flu”) every year, but it is especially important to get vaccinated this year, as it is very likely that the flu will be spreading this winter along with COVID-19. Like COVID-19, the flu can be a serious infection that may lead to hospitalization and death. 

It is also possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. 

Flu vaccines reduce the risk of flu illness and hospitalization, and will also help decrease the spread of flu in our community while COVID-19 may remain more widespread. Decreasing the number of flu cases helps prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with influenza related illness so more resources may be devoted to Covid-19 if needed. Influenza and COVID-19 symptoms overlap, and it is near impossible to tell the difference between the two illnesses based on symptoms so getting a test is required to be sure. Individuals with flu-like symptoms may have many missed work or school days while in quarantine and waiting for test results to further delineate if the symptoms were cause from Covid-19 or Influenza. By getting the flu vaccine, your chance of having these symptoms is greatly reduced. 

We look forward to a vaccine that prevents Covid-19, but that is not yet available. When that is available, we are confident we'll be encouraging getting that one as well.  

If you have questions about immunizations or the health care of your children, please contact the Tanana Valley Clinic Pediatric Department at 907-459-3520.